What is the purpose of the grant?
Who can apply for the grant?
How does the application process work?
The amount of the grant
How are applications evaluated?
Conditions and Procedure for Adaptation Support
Guidelines for evaluating adaptation support applications
The application call is open! Applications received between April and June will be reviewed in July.
Purpose of the grant
The purpose of the grant is to recruit researchers from abroad to Estonian research and development institutions. The aim is to bring new knowledge to Estonia, thereby enhancing local research and development activities and raising their quality. The mobility support allows both foreign researchers and Estonian researchers who have moved abroad to continue their research careers in Estonia, facilitating the integration of the Estonian research and development system.
To who is the grant aimed at?
The grant is aimed at research and development institutions in Estonia that have been positively evaluated and wish to hire a researcher from abroad. The grant can be applied for by researchers who:
- Have not lived or worked permanently in Estonia for the past 12 months. This condition does not apply to recipients of the Estonian Research Council’s (ETAG) Postdoctoral Research Grant (PUTJD);
- Have completed a postdoctoral program or have conducted research of comparable level abroad by the time of application;
- Do not apply for ETAG’s postdoctoral, starting, or group grants in the application year and have not been listed as the (senior) research staff in any starting or group grant application.
Upon receiving the grant, the host institution is obligated to enter into an employment contract with the researcher for a minimum period of 24 months.
How does the application process work?
Applications are accepted year-round. First, the host institution must send a letter of intent to ETAG via email at etag@etag.ee to apply for the corresponding grant. Then, a personalized application form is opened for the researcher in the Estonian Research Information System (ETIS).
The application must include:
- The researcher’s name
- Host institution
- Field of research and development
- Researcher’s CV with explanations indicating their research and development activities over the past five years, including their work and place of residence in the preceding 12 months
- Project description with activities and timetable to be carried out during the grant period at the host institution, indicating research and development activities planned in Estonia
- Description from the host institution of collaboration with the recruited researcher, how the researcher will be integrated into the institution, how the researcher’s work relates to the strategic objectives of the host institution, etc.
- Confirmation from the host institution that an employment contract will be signed with the researcher for an indefinite term or for a minimum period of 24 months, clearly specifying the position the researcher will hold.
How much funding is available?
The adaptation grant amount is 72,000 euros per year, of which ETAG covers 50%, and the host institution’s co-financing is 50%. The grant period is 24 months. The grant includes the researcher’s salary, research expenses, and overhead for the host institution.
How are applications evaluated?
ETAG conducts the evaluation of applications. Although applications can be submitted year-round, the review process takes place once per quarter, assessing all applications received in the previous quarter. For example, applications received between January and March are reviewed in April. Applications are evaluated by a specially assembled expert committee based on three criteria:
- Description of the project to be implemented, its thoroughness, ambition, and added value to the field.
- Researcher’s competence and potential, including their activities over the past five years.
- Host institution’s idea of integrating the researcher into the institution.
Each criterion is evaluated on a scale of 1-5, and applications are funded in order of merit until the allocated funds are exhausted. All applications with a final score of at least 80% of the maximum score (i.e., 12 points) qualify for funding. Applications are funded in order of merit until the allocated funds are exhausted.
Contact:
Allan Padar
Head of Research Mobility
+372 5686 6722
allan.padar@etag.ee