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Estonian RD&I policy
new strategy in preparation
Dr. Indrek Reimand
Deputy Secretary General for Research and Higher
Education
Tallinn, 28.05.2013
Estonian context
• Very small country
– Still having its own language based culture and higher education
system
– R&D needs to balance between specialisation and
cultural/educational coverage
• Very dynamic
– Unfavoured starting point, but catching up
– No stabile economic structure to align the research system
• Very lean government
– Very simple tax structure (no tax incentives for R&D)
• Very “e”
– E-banking – 99% of transactions
– European largest Public Key Infrastructure
– First e-elections in the world
R&D is growing fast
GERD / BERD
Publications
Patents
FP success
R&D expenditure (GERD) in 2011, % of GDP
4.00
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
Source: Eurostat
CURRENT RD&I STRATEGY
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Estonia in European Innovation Survey
2007-12
Thematic foci of current RDI strategy
• Estonian strategic RDI priorities are chosen to support
research-driven, technology-driven and problem-driven
R&D.
• Three of the seven national programs are selected with a
technological focus
– ICT, biotech and material technologies)
• Four are focusing on societal challenges
– energy, defence and security, health care and welfare services,
environmental protection.
Targeting R&D during growth
• ~ 25% growth per annum cannot be very focussed
• Broad focusses apply!
• No stabile economic structure exists (fast restructuring
even before crisis) to align the research system
– R&D should be aligned with future economic structure
• R&D policies concentrate to basic values:
– People, quality, enterpreneurship, infrastructure and cooperation
– On the verge of change of economic structure (critical phase,
metastability) R&D may drive economic changes
ERAC peer review findings
• OUTSTANDING PROGRESS, BUT NOT WITHOUT
CHALLENGES
• Overall conclusions
– Steady progress driven by quality, excellence and competition
– Innovation system detached from vast part of the economy
– Challenge to further develop RDI system to make a difference in
the economy & society at large
– Upgrade the role of Estonian industry in the global value chains
– Lack of trained personnel hinders growth and investments
ERAC peer review some recommendations
• Perceive RDI as a means to achieve economic and
societal goals
– Priorities directly responding to the needs of Estonian society
and the economy
• More clear focus for Estonian RDI programmes
– linked to the implementation of the new national strategy
– Fewer programmes of key importance
• Ensure coherent and systemic RDI policy
– Attention on coordination and implementation of policies
– Stronger horizontal coordination by RDC
• Harness RDI measures to drive structural change in the
economy
ESTONIAN RD&I STRATEGY
2014-2020
Estonian RD&I strategy 2014-2020
• The terms of reference for the new Estonian RD&I
strategy 2014-2020 were approved by the Government
in June 2012.
• Ministry of Education and Research is in charge of
drafting the strategy in close cooperation with other
ministries.
• The new RD&I strategy has to be in compliance with the
National Reform Programme, “Estonia 2020” strategy
and Entrepreneurial Growth Strategy 2020
Goals
• Main goal:
– Good framework conditions for development and making social
and economic effects of RD&I
• Targets 2020:
– GERD 3%, BERD 2% of GDP (2011: 2,41% and 1,52% of GDP)
– 10. place in innovation Union Scoreboard (2011: 14. place)
– Productivity per employed 80% of EU average (2011: 68%)
• Specific goals:
–
–
–
–
Research excellence and versatility
Increasing the socio-economic impact of R&D
Changing economic structure: smart specialisation
Estonia is active in international RD&I cooperation
Excellence
and versatility
• Estonian research is competitive and visible in the world,
while covering main directions. Estonia is an attractive
place for RD&I. Research career is valued.
• Targets 2020:
– Scientific publications among the top-10% most cited
publications worldwide as % of total scientific publications of the
country), 11% (2010: ~ 7,5%)
– PhD degrees awarded per year 300 (2012 – 190)
Increasing socioeconomic
impact of R&D
• R&D is oriented to the needs of society and economy,
appreciating applications. RPO-s cooperate with
business and government. State is a smart procurer of
research
• Targets 2020:
– Government budget appropriations or outlays on R&D
(GBAORD), except General Advancement of Knowledge: 40%
(2011 estimated ca 30%)
– Share of publicly-performed research financed by business 7%
(2011 2,95%)
Changing economic
structure:
Smart
Specialisation
• Research system actively contributes to change
economic structure. Share of knowledge-intensive
business is growing. Value added in export has grown
• Targets 2020:
– Employment in high and medium tech sectors 9% (2010 6%);
– Export share of high tech products and services 15% (2010
10,4%)
Smart specialisation:
How will we do?
• Selected growth areas will have dedicated support
programmes
• The growth areas are selected by Estonian Development Fund
using OECD/EC Smart Specialisation methodology
– The economic and research profile quantitative analyses are made by Enterprise
Estonia, Estonian Research Council and leading economists.
• The growth areas will be supported comprehensively by different
policies and strategies
• Problems
– methodological limitations: Smallness of the region, Quantitative
versus qualitative approach
– Balance between horisontal and vertical measures (the degree
of specialisation)
The growth areas
• The tentative growth areas has been chosen…:
– ICT supporting other sectors
• IKT usage in industry
• Cyber security
– Health technologies and services
• biotechnology
• e-health
– Resource efficiency
•
•
•
•
Material science and industry
Innovative building industry
Health promoting food industry
Chemical industry (oil shale)
Timeline for the strategy
• In June the draft of the strategy will be consulted in
Research Policy Commission and R&D Council.
• The strategy will be submitted to the Government in
June together with the Entrepreneurial Growth Strategy
2020.
• According to the law, the RD&I strategy has to be
approved by the Parliament - the expected time is
autumn 2013.
Thank you!
Dr. Indrek Reimand
Deputy Secretary General for Research and
Higher Education
Ministry of Education and Research
Munga 18, Tartu
Tel.: 7350316
E-mail: [email protected]