Research Infrastructures

ESFRI, the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, is a strategic instrument to develop the scientific integration of Europe and to strengthen its international outreach. The competitive and open access to high quality Research Infrastructures supports and benchmarks the quality of the activities of European scientists, and attracts the best researchers from around the world. ESFRI operates at the forefront of European and global science policy and contributes to its development translating political objectives into concrete advice for RI in Europe. ESFRI has established a European Roadmap for research infrastructures (new and major upgrades, pan-European interest) for the next 10-20 years, stimulates the implementation of these facilities, and updates the roadmap as needed.

CLARIN ERIC (Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure)

Estonia joined CLARIN ERIC in 2011. The Centre of Estonian Language Resources, a consortium of three partners (University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology, and the Institute of Estonian Language) implements CLARIN ERIC activities in Estonia.

ESS ERIC (European Social Survey)

Estonia joined ESS ERIC in 2013. The Institute of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Tartu, is the coordinator of ESS ERIC’s survey activities in Estonia.

BBMRI ERIC (Biobanking and Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure)

Estonia joined BBMRI ERIC in 2013. The national body implementing BBMRI ERIC activities in Estonia is the Estonian Genome Center, University of Tartu.

ELIXIR (A Distributed Infrastructure for Life-Science Information)

Estonia joined ELIXIR in 2013. The national implementing node in Estonia is University of Tartu together with its consortium partners (Tallinn University of Technology, Estonian Biocentre, Tallinn University and National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics).

European Spallation Source ERIC

Estonia joined the European Spallation Source ERIC in 2015. The scientific activities of Estonian participation in the construction of European Spallation Source are coordinated by the University of Tartu together with its consortium partners (Tallinn University of Technology, National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics). To better involve Estonian companies in the construction of the Spallation Source, an Industrial Liaison Officer is employed by the University of Tartu.

Contact: Prof Enn Lust
Director, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu
e-mail: enn.lust@ut.ee

SHARE ERIC (Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe)

Estonia is not official member of SHARE ERIC, but is involved actively in the survey. The scientific activities are coordinated by Tallinn University.

Contact: Dr Luule Sakkeus
Senior Researcher, Estonian Institute of Population Studies, Tallinn University
e-mail: luule.sakkeus@tlu.ee
http://www.share-estonia.ee/

European Space Agency (ESA)

Estonia’s accession agreement to ESA was signed on 4 February 2015. The research-related activities are mainly co-ordinated by the Ministry of Education and Research; industry-related activities are coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. The main contact point in Estonia is the Estonia Space Office at Enterprise Estonia.

European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

Estonia participates in the activities of CERN according to the cooperation agreement from 23 April 1996 which is renewed every 5 years. The research activities are coordinated by the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics.

Contact: Mario Kadastik
National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics
e-mail: mario.kadastik@cern.ch
https://www.kbfi.ee

European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)

Estonia has become prospect member since June 2019.

Contact: Prof Toivo Maimets
Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu
e-mail: toivo.maimets@ut.ee

GÉANT

GÉANT is the leading collaboration on network and related infrastructure and services for the benefit of research and education, contributing to Europe's economic growth and competitiveness. Estonia is represented by Information Technology Foundation for Education (HITSA).

Contact: Kristina Lillemets
Director of Estonian Education and Research Network (EENet), Information Technology Foundation for Education (HITSA)
e-mail: kristina.lillemets@hitsa.ee
http://hitsa.ee/en

European Grid Initiative (EGI)

EGI is a publicly-funded federation of over 300 data and computing data centres spread across Europe and worldwide. Estonia is represented by Information Technology Foundation for Education (HITSA) and National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics.

Contact: Kristina Lillemets
Director of Estonian Education and Research Network (EENet), Information Technology Foundation for Education (HITSA)
e-mail: kristina.lillemets@hitsa.ee

Mario Kadastik
Deputy Director, National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics
e-mail: mario.kadastik@kbfi.ee
https://kbfi.ee/?lang=en

MAX-IV Laboratory

2010 was the inauguration of the construction site of MAX IV Laboratory on the fields of Brunnshög in Lund, Sweden. The Estonian-Finnish beamline FINESTBEAMS is being built on the 1,5 GeV ring jointly by the University of Tartu and 3 Finnish universities – University of Turku, University of Oulu and Tampere University of Technology.

Network of SMEAR stations

SMEAR Estonia is part of Estonian Research Infrastructures Roadmap object ”Estonian Environmental Observatory”. The Observatory covers research stations all over Estonia and the aim is to do research and monitoring on atmosphere-biosphere interactions, marine and limnological sciences, and land ecosystems.

SMEAR Estonia is established in south east Estonia, at the Järvselja Experimental Forestry station. Additional structures in direct connection are the ”Free Air Humidifcation Manipulaton” (FAHM) experimental site at Rõka (also Järvselja) and meteorological research at Valgjärve (near Põlva) 300 m tower.

The Järvselja SMEAR station is the extension of the network of Finnish SMEAR stations which extends from Arctic to the Baltic states.

Links to some related international research infrastructure home pages
- European Commission Research Infrastructures webpage
- ESFRI Roadmap
- ERIC Consortiums
- Consortium of Horizon 2020 NCP-s of Research Infrastructures
- STR-ESFRI project

Research infrastructures in other Baltic States
- List of research infrastructures in Latvia
- List of research infrastructures in Lithuania