Most research and development in Estonia is performed in the public sector. The largest public research university is the University of Tartu, followed by the Tallinn University of Technology, the Estonian University of Life Sciences and Tallinn University. Together with those universities, there are more than 20 positively evaluated research institutions in Estonia, as of 2024. Some of the public ones that perform high-end research are the Estonian Biocentre, the Estonian Literary Museum, Estonian National Museum, the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, and the Institute of the Estonian Language. The work of R&D institutions is supported by several foundations and research parks that aim to create a favorable environment for research in Estonia.
Disclaimer: Page update in May 2025
Research Institutions
Currently there are 22 R&D institutions in Estonia that have recieved a positive evaluation by the Ministry of Education and Research, out of which 6 are public universities.
Estonian Academy of Arts (Eesti Kunstiakadeemia)
Students: 1 100; Research field: Culture and society
Estonian Academy of Music (Eesti Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia)
Students: 700; Research field: Culture and society
Estonian University of Life Sciences (Eesti Maaülikool)
Students: 3 300; Research fields: Natural sciences and engineering;
Tallinn University (Tallinna Ülikool)
Students: 9 000; Research fields: Biosciences and environment; Natural sciences and engineering; Culture and society
Tallinn University of Technology (Tallinna Tehnikaülikool)
Students: 12 000; Research fields: Natural sciences and engineering; Health; Biosciences and environment; Culture and society
University of Tartu (Tartu Ülikool)
Students: 13 700; Research fields: Natural sciences and engineering; Health; Biosciences and environment; Culture and society;
BioCC OÜ Research field: Health
Center of Food and Fermentation Technologies
Competence Centre on Health Technologies Research field: Health
Cybernetica Research field: Natural sciences and engineering
Estonian Business School Research field: Culture and society
Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge
Estonian Literary Museum Research field: Culture and society
Estonian National Museum Research field: Culture and society
Institute of Estonian Language Research field: Culture and society
National Institute for Health Development Research field: Health
National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics Research fields: Health; Biosciences and environment; Natural Sciences and engineering
Protobios OÜ Research field: Health
Under and Tuglas Literature CentreResearch field: Culture and society
Research Centres of Excellence are scientific consortia which aim to develop the cooperation and joint activities of exceptionally high-level Estonian research groups. They focus on solving high-risk, high-reward research questions based on the needs of Estonia that lead to a breakthrough research result that significantly affects the current knowledge or practices of one or more fields. They receive funding from the Research Centres of Excellence (CoE) measure. Currently, for the years 2024-2030, there are 10 Centres of Excellence in action.
Estonian Roots: Centre of Excellence for transdisciplinary studies on ethnogenesis and cultural diversity, led by University of Tartu.
Agroecology and new crops in future climates (AgroCropFuture), led by Estonian University of Life Sciences.
Foundations of the Universe, led by National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics.
Center of Excellence in Sustainable Green Hydrogen and Energy Technologies, led by University of Tartu.
Estonian Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence, led by University of Tartu
Estonian Center of Excellence of Well-Being Sciences, led by University of Tartu
Centre of Excellence for Personalised Medicine, led by University of Tartu
Centre of Excellence in Energy Efficiency, led by Tallinn University of Technology
Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Land Use, led by University of Tartu
Centre of Excellence in Circular Economy for Strategic Mineral and Carbon Resources, led by Tallinn University of Technology
Supporting Institutions
The following institutions support research and development activities.
The Estonian Research Council (ETAG) isa government foundation and is the main funding body for R&D in Estonia. It consolidates different grants and types of funding and gives research more visibility in the society by various other activities.
See here for ETAg funding instruments.
- The Department of Research and Development Funding is responsible for the distribution of institutional and personal grants and the handling of grant applications. They also implement the European structural aid programmes for R&D and for promotion of science, among which is providing support also for internationalisation of research, mobility of researchers and the next generation of researchers.
- The Department of R&D Strategic Analysis assesses the effectiveness and impact of Estonian research ecosystem and grants provided, monitors the creation and use of intellectual property as well as the adherence to the ethical principles and research integrity. This department is also responsible for managing the Estonian Research Information System (ETIS). They manage information on researchers, research projects, R&D institutions and various research results. The database allows searches to be performed for researchers, biographies, granted projects, publications, etc. ETIS also functions as a channel for submitting and processing grant applications and for submitting and validating project reports.
- The Department of International Research Cooperation acts as a National Contact Point for the EU Framework Programme for Research (Horizon Europe), manages some bilateral research funding schemes and European partnerships and represents Estonia in several international cooperation programmes and networks. It also runs Research Council´s office in Brussels.
- The Science Communication Department runs a wide variety of science communication activities addressing diverse audiences from the young people to the general public.
Estonian Business and Innovation Agencypromotes business and regional policy in Estonia. It is one of the largest institutions within the national entrepreneurship support system in Estonia, providing grants for product development, specialized advice, partnership opportunities and training for entrepreneurs, research and development institutions and for the public and the third sector.
The Estonian Academy of Sciences(EAS) unites top-level Estonian scientists and scholars and acts as an umbrella organisation for a number of associated R&D organisations. The primary mission of the organisation is to advance scientific research, to provide high-level expertise and advice for the governmental organisations, helping them to shape knowledge-based decisions at national level, and to disseminate knowledge and promote research cooperation both at national and international level. The EAS represents Estonian research internationally, supports Estonian membership in international research associations and funds and operates a research exchange programme with 17 partner organisations abroad.
Education and Youth Boardis state institution, responsible for implementing Estonia’s education and youth policies. They coordinate and implement programmes and projects in the area of training, education and research. They are also the implementing body of Erasmus+, and administer several national and international scholarship schemes for improving academic mobility as well as for promoting Estonian higher education and research abroad.
The Agency of Academic Recognition (Estonian ENIC/NARIC Centre), a unit of the Foundation, is responsible for evaluating foreign qualifications, whereas the Estonian Quality Agency for Higher and Vocational Education carries out institutional accreditation and quality assessment of study groups. The Archimedes Foundation is also the Implementing Agency of Structural Support for the period of 2014-2020 in the field of R&D.
ETIS (www.etis.ee) is the Estonian Research Information System. ETIS concentrates information on research- and development institutions, researchers, research projects and various research results. ETIS is an information channel and a tool for researchers, R&D institutions and research administrators. It is not obligatory to have an ETIS account but it is highly recommended. Researchers can use the ETIS for submitting and processing grant applications and also for confiriming project reports. Research funding organizations use ETIS for evaluating and processing applications and giving feedback.
Estonia’s research and development policy is drafted by the Government and submitted to the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) for adoption. The Government is advised in R&D issues by the Research and Development Council. The Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, which receives advice from the Research Policy Committee, is responsible for the planning, coordination, execution and monitoring of the country’s research and education policy.
Research Strategy
The main strategy document for Estonia’s R&D&I policy is Estonian Research and Development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategy 2021-2035 — the forth strategy on research and development and innovation — approved by the Riigikogu (Estonia’s parliament) in the summer of 2022. Whereas the previous R&D strategy focused on exploiting the established potential for the benefit of Estonia’s development and economic growth, the new one focusses on the collaboration of R&D&I areas to increase the well-being of Estonian society and the productivity of the Estonian economy, by providing competitive and sustainable solutions for the development needs of Estonia and the world.
Useful links:
Estonian Research Infrastructures Roadmap
Ministry of Education and Research - Research and Development