Estonia’s research cooperation with the Nordic countries has been important both historically and strategically. Since 2019, the Estonian Research Council has joined at least one new call for proposals each year in collaboration with NordForsk. This provides Estonian researchers with access to Nordic research networks and the opportunity to carry out joint projects. NordForsk is a Nordic platform for research and research policy cooperation between the Nordic countries (Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland) and their autonomous regions (Faroe Islands, Åland, Greenland). Its aim is to support high-quality research and multilateral collaboration in areas of strategic importance for the region. Estonia’s participation in NordForsk calls helps to strengthen local research competence, improve the quality of science, and exchange best practices with the Nordic countries.
Estonia has also joined NordForsk’s e-infrastructure initiative NeIC (Nordic e-Infrastructure Consortium), which facilitates development and operation of high-quality e-infrastructure solutions in areas of joint Nordic interest.
The Baltic Research Programme was implemented between 2018 and 2025 with financial support from the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism 2014–2021. The aim of the programme was to increase the international competitiveness of Baltic researchers in close cooperation with partners from Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, addressing important societal challenges. As a result of open calls organised in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, 28 projects were funded with a total budget of €24.6 million, including seven projects from Estonia with a total budget of €6 million. Further information about Estonian-led projects carried out in 2020-2024 is available [here].