Stenbock House, 16 January 2017 – The Research and Development Council, which gathered under the management of Prime Minister Jüri Ratas today, supported the proposal to carry out the assessment of national research and development and innovation system in 2018.
The proposal of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Education and Research, and the Government Office aims to receive an authoritative external expert assessment on the current research and development system, involving practical recommendations on how to use Estonia’s current research activities significantly more in the interests of society and the economy. The report should help to better and purposefully prepare for the new European Union funding period after 2020.
The members of the Research and Development Council found that the study could be potentially carried out by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), however, it should be also considered to commission the external assessment or analysis from another authoritative organisation. The specific initial task and performer of the study is scheduled to be decided in the first half of 2017.
The Research and Development Council advises the Government on matters related to the strategy of research and development, thereby directing the development of national research and development and innovation system. The Chairman of the Council is Prime Minister Jüri Ratas and its members include Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Urve Palo, Minister of Education and Research Mailis Reps, Minister of Finance Sven Sester, Rector of Tallinn University of Technology Jaak Aaviksoo, Rector of the University of Tartu Volli Kalm, President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences Tarmo Soomere, Professor Mart Saarma, Chairman of the Board of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toomas Luman, CEO of the Estonian Employers’ Confederation Toomas Tamsar, top managers Gunnar Okk and Oliver Väärtnõu.
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