Prime Minister Kaja Kallas gave an overview of research and development activities

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Kallas stressed that, in a changed economic and security environment, it was more important than ever to have the capacity to build critical capabilities on the ground. According to her, the only way to emerge victorious from today’s crises is to make society and the economy significantly more knowledge-based.

The Prime Minister’s speech showed that today’s challenges also offered new opportunities for development and innovation. “Our target to reach three per cent of GDP in R&D is more important than ever in these challenging circumstances. This is also the reason why, despite the exceptionally difficult budgetary situation, we decided to increase the funds allocated to R&D in the state budget,” she added. This year’s national budget allocates €409 million to research and innovation, which is €23 million more than last year. “With the help of these funds, it will be possible to increase both basic research funding and research grants, as well as services supporting business innovation. This is crucial for achieving a more science-intensive society,” Kallas said.

Growth in R&D investment has been driven by the private sector for several years already. “Last year, we were happy to see that the private sector invested the largest amount of money in history in research, €308 million, but a year later, despite the difficult times, business investment increased to €361 million,” she gave an example. According to Kallas, companies that have found the means to invest in difficult times also have greater opportunities to emerge as winners from crises. The positive change is also confirmed by the fact that Estonia has moved up to 16th place in the global innovation index, having ranked 20th two years earlier. “In the four areas assessed, Estonia is the absolute leader, that is, ranking first among all countries,” she said.

In her speech, Kallas pointed out that the state would strengthen the services and support that had been spoken of before to help businesses to come up with innovative products. “The applied research programme is helping companies to spread the risks related to development activities. The Centre for Applied Research is providing more permanent support to the areas with the greatest business potential,” the Prime Minister added. Support systems, both mentoring and administrative support, have also been developed for increasingly competitive Estonian researchers. “Ten new centres of excellence are about to be launched. For the first time, their impact on society was assessed as one of the three criteria for their selection, which is why more businesses, public authorities and other partners have been involved in their work now,” Kallas pointed out.

A big concern in science is that more people are needed, but young people do not want to be scientists. “Surprisingly, one of the first reasons is not money at all, but the fact that our social opinion and the working environment of research institutions do not offer young people the necessary support, work and rest time balance, and development opportunities,” Kallas said. However, according to the Prime Minister, the increase in higher education funding is helping to solve the problem, as it is often younger researchers who are doing the teaching. “For example, in addition to increasing enrolment in engineering disciplines, Tallinn University of Technology is increasing the salaries paid for teaching. Other higher education institutions are taking similar steps. And this is the right way forward to help young people balance their work and rest time,” she added.

Prime Minister Kallas said that new elements had constantly been added to the science and innovation ecosystem, such as the innovation ladder, the Centre for Applied Research, and research programmes based on the needs of society, all of which were filling a strategic gap and creating conditions for tomorrow’s growth. “We must dare to do things in new ways. And we must be open to the experience of the world,” she said.

During the debate, Tõnis Lukas from Isamaa Parliamentary Group, Irja Lutsar from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group, Jaak Valge from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Margit Sutrop from the Estonian Reform Party Group and Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart from the Estonian Centre Party Group took the floor.

Two Bills were dropped from legislative proceedings

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Medicinal Products Act (162 SE), initiated by Member of the Riigikogu Kalle Grünthal. It was intended to prohibit the sale and use in Estonia of medicinal products intended for the prevention of COVID-19 that have not been subjected to genotoxicity or carcinogenicity studies because, according to the initiator, they pose a risk to public health.

Anti Poolamets from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group took the floor during the debate.

53 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Social Affairs Committee to reject the Bill and 7 voted against it.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (345 SE), initiated by Isamaa Parliamentary Group. It aimed to increase the international competitiveness of Estonian road carriers and to improve the conditions of posting of Estonian international freight drivers. To this end, it was proposed to increase the income-tax-free daily allowance paid to posted international freight drivers to up to €75 per day for the entire duration of posting.

During the debate, Aivar Kokk from Isamaa Parliamentary Group and Priit Lomp from the Social Democratic Party Group took the floor.

39 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Finance Committee to reject the Bill and 13 voted against it.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Photos (Author: Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Eleen Lindmaa
+372 631 6456, +372 5551 4433
eleen.lindmaa@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Prime Minister Kaja Kallas gave an overview of research and development activities

Source: Parliament of Estonia