Estonian govt endorses development plan on R&D, innovation and business

TALLINN – The Estonian government at its Thursday sitting approved a joint development plan for research and development, innovation and entrepreneurship for 2021-2035.

The document is the follow-up strategy to the Estonian research and development and innovation strategy 2014-2020, which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Research, and the Estonian business growth strategy 2014-2020, which is the responsibility of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. The strategy sets common goals for R&D, innovation and entrepreneurship for the next 15 years, the government's communication office said.  

The development plan focuses more than before on increasing the influence of science and scientists and on the use of research results in solving Estonia's development needs. In supporting businesses, the focus will shift from export-intensive to knowledge-intensive, innovation, and increased value-added.

The aim of the development plan is to increase the wellbeing of Estonian society and the productivity of the economy in synergy between research and development, innovation and entrepreneurship, and to offer competitive and sustainable solutions to the development needs of Estonia and the world.

Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology Andres Sutt noted that the main concerns of businesses are low levels of innovation and shortage of skilled labor, which are two areas addressed by the new development plan.

"Until now, research and business policy have been developed in Estonia largely each on its own, which is why there is not always a match between research and the needs of businesses. The aim of the new development plan is to increase cooperation between businesses and research institutions in the development of new products and services, as well as to ensure the development and succession of talent and experts in Estonia," Sutt said in a press release.

The draft of the development plan was prepared under the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, and with the participation of researchers and business operators.