OREANDA-NEWS.  June 18, 2012. The research and development council seminar discussed the priorities for preparing the new research, development and innovation (RDI) development plan. The participants at the seminar said that the new development plan should include better linkage between research and private enterprise and be more oriented to national interests.

At the seminar, the Ministry of Education and Research introduced the preparation of the terms of reference for the new RDI development plan. One of the conclusions of the presentation was that the development of research, development and innovation in Estonia has been good but research, society and the economy have been too separate from one another and not sufficiently oriented to national interests. Also at the seminar, Government Office also summarized the primary questions regarding preparation of the new development plan raised in interviews conducted with RDI council members.

The discussion brought out four basic directions of RDI policy which the development plan prepared for 2014-2020 should take into consideration. One, it will be important to prioritize the various fields more precisely and create better connections between fields. It will also be important to link research and enterprise more effectively, develop cooperative capacity and to clearly set out clear principles developing infrastructure. Enhancing the value of human resources in R&D should be given a greater role, their movement between countries should be promoted and support should be given for training a new generation of researchers. Finally, the new RDI development plan should be supported by Estonia’s strengths and be compatible with European Union priorities.

The participants at the seminar reached the consensus that in carrying out policies to support the activities in the new development plan, long-term influences on the state as a whole must be kept in sight. The proposal for preparation of a new RDI development plan and the positions of the research and development council can be viewed here starting from 25 June 2012 at the latest: www.valitsus.ee/et/riigikantselei/teadus-ja-arendusnoukogu.

Besides Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, the research and development council seminar was attended by research and development council members Richard Villems, Mart Saarma, Andres Keevallik, Allan Martinson, Linnar Viik, Toomas Luman and Juhan Parts.