The allocation principles were based on ensuring that funding is stable, supporting the setting of long-term sectoral targets, helping to increase the capacity of different sectors evenly, and enabling the implementation of larger and inter-ministerial projects. The Research and Development Council recommends that the government allocate half of the additional state budget funds to increase the basic research and development capabilities of ministries and the other half to increase strategically important capabilities on an application-by-application basis. Competition-based funds will be allocated within the framework of the state budget process during the autumn. A guide was also adopted to give participants confidence that the funds allocated will actually be spent on R&D.
In addition, the Estonian Employers’ Confederation gave the Research and Development Council an overview of a survey conducted among its members, which mapped the expectations of local entrepreneurs for graduates of business or knowledge transfer doctoral studies. Entrepreneurs who either already employ specialists with a doctoral-level degree or intend to hire them found that this has a positive effect on the product development process, competitiveness, and international reputation of the company. At the same time, it was emphasised that an employee with a doctoral-level degree must be able to use research and development to achieve specific economic results, and this skill must be given much more attention in doctoral studies.
According to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, combining science and entrepreneurship increases the potential of the Estonian economy. “Estonia is known as an innovative small country and this is an important competitive advantage both in the economy and in supporting the image of Estonia. The analysis of the Estonian Employers’ Confederation helps to better understand the expectations that employers have for doctoral students, which means that universities can prepare the students more effectively in accordance with the practical needs. We want more doctoral students to find employment in business and thus the Estonian economy to be stronger and more innovative,” said Kallas.
Based on the results of the survey, the Research and Development Council decided to involve representatives of employers in the process of developing knowledge transfer doctoral measures, make prior work experience in the field a requirement for the admission of doctoral students, and make the completion of a business module a part of such doctoral studies.
In spring, the Research and Development Council decided to change both its structure and content. In order to emphasise the growing role of the Council in the field of innovation, it was decided to change the name to Research, Development, and Innovation Policy Council when amending the respective law. In order to create a debate in society on important new topics, it was decided to launch a report titled ‘The third mission of universities: Estonian researchers as a guide to innovation’. The report must be completed within six months. Already in October, it is planned to approve the new composition of the Research and Development Council, which aims to increase the competence of knowledge transfer and innovation as well as to strive for a better sectoral, gender, and organisational balance.
