OREANDA-NEWS. November 05, 2009. At a meeting at the University of Tartu, the Research and Development Council (TAN) discussed how the global recession has influenced Estonia’s research and innovation policy and found that it has been consistent despite the difficult circumstances. At the meeting, a summary was also prepared on how the “Knowledge-Based Estonia 2007-2013” strategy has thus far been put into practice, reported the Official website valitsus.ee.

It was realised at the TAN meeting that Estonia’s biggest challenge in the coming years will lie in increasing exports and production. Research and development and innovation play an important part in it, since it is equally important to invest into product development, technological advances and co-operation between research institutions and enterprises in difficult times. Such investments aimed at the future create the preconditions for new growth.

The Research and Development Council assessed the government’s innovation policy as positive. The goals laid out in the “Knowledge-Based Estonia 2007-2013” strategy have been generally reached, even in these difficult times. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip stressed that the financing of research and development has been steadily increased even during the crisis. In 2009 and 2010, investments from the budget will increase significantly. Subsidies for companies and instruments aimed at developing the research infrastructure have also been increased.

According to Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, the consistency of the government’s policy is yielding results. A good example would be the increasing number of researchers and engineers working in Estonia. “It is people who create new value in the economy. Without researchers and engineers the added value of Estonia’s economy cannot increase by much. I am glad that the number of researchers and engineers in the private sector has quadrupled in the last ten years. It is the result of a long-running and stable research and innovation policy.”

One problem that was highlighted at the TAN meeting was the number of people defending their Doctoral level degrees, which is lower than expected. The need for increased co-operation and clearer priorities was also stressed.

More information about the research and development policy can be found here: http://www.riigikantselei.ee/tan/

The discussion about the research and innovation policy also continued today in Tartu at the conference “Kuidas laheb, teadmistepohine Eesti?” (“How are we doing, Knowledge-Based Estonia?”). The Prime Minister assured the conference that the government will continue to support research and development, and in 2010 expenditures in the sector will be 2.8 times higher than they were in 2005. Support for the sector has increased despite a situation where state institutions have decreased their expenditure back to the level of 2006-2007.