Research cooperation

Programme Summary

Why is the programme needed? The overall objective of the Norwegian-Estonian Research Cooperation Programme is to enhance research-based knowledge development in Estonia through research cooperation between Norway and Estonia. The programme will be implemented by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research together with the Research Council of Norway, the country’s donor programme partner (DPP), and the Estonian Research Council, the implementing Agency, and in close cooperation with the EEA and Norway Grants Scholarship Programme. What will the programme achieve and who are the beneficiaries? The programme, through a single call for proposals for academic research projects, is designed to ensure the quality and high level of research. The programme shall strengthen bilateral relations with the aim of stimulating long-term cooperation, capacity and competence-building. An important objective of the Programme is to strengthen human resources in research through facilitating international relations and involving PhD and Master’s students in the projects. How will it be achieved? The programme will be implemented through joint research projects enabling research teams to bring together complementary skills, knowledge, and resources in order to jointly address research problems. Applications for joint research projects in all areas of research and in the field of basic and/or applied research are invited. The programme budget, including national co-financing, is €3 333 333. The budget available for projects is around €2 958 000. How will bilateral relations be strengthened? The aim of the Programme is to foster the exchange of scientific knowledge between Norwegian and Estonian researchers and to establish advanced and synergistic collaborative research between research institutions in Norway and Estonia. In addition to the research projects, several capacity building activities are planned under the programme: • Networking and sharing of best practices between project promoters and entities in Norway where such activities increase the added value of the programme and provide the opportunity to establish international best practice standards and broaden the competence of the project participants; • Meetings, seminars and workshops related to specific thematic areas (e.g. leadership, evaluation, research management, etc.) will be organised. The Programme shall contribute to the strengthening of existing, and the creation of new scientific relations between Estonian and Norwegian research institutions and research teams. Who can apply for funding under the programme? Eligible applicants are research organisations. Cooperation between at least one research institution from Estonia and one from Norway is a mandatory criterion. Project applications are submitted by Estonian research organisations (project promoters). What are the partnership opportunities? Project partners may be research organisations as well as private law enterprises. Cooperation between at least one research institution from Estonia and one institution from Norway is a mandatory criterion.