Incoming Postdoctoral Grant

Since 2023, the incoming postdoctoral grant awarded by the Estonian Research Council has been linked to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF).
The support is intended for researchers who have previously applied for an MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship, received a high evaluation score, but whose proposal was not funded. In such cases, applicants may submit the same proposal to the Estonian Research Council and receive funding to implement the project in Estonia.

Eligible applicants include both those whose original MSCA proposal was submitted in collaboration with an Estonian host institution, as well as — following a change introduced in 2025 — those whose original proposal was submitted with a host institution in another country but who now wish to carry out their project in Estonia.

Detailed conditions for both options can be found in the selection below.

 

Whom do we support?
The goal of the postdoctoral grant
Support period
Requirements for applicants
If the applicant is a company
Applying for the grant
Application processing
Conditions and procedure
Previous documents and results
Additional materials
Frequently asked questions

 

The 2025 call for proposals has ended. 

 

Whom do we support?

We support the arrival of postdoctoral researchers to Estonia. The support is aimed at researchers who have recently applied for the Marie Skłodowska Curie (MSCA) postdoctoral individual grant (Europen Fellowship) to come to Estonia, received a positive result (at least 70 points), but have not received funding, and who wish to continue their research in Estonia. The activities of MSCA can be read about in more detail here.

 

The goal of the postdoctoral grant

The goal of providing grant is to balance and encourage the circulation of talent and to simultaneously support the opportunities for completing an important phase of a researcher’s career, namely the postdoctoral stage. The Estonian state values the arrival of foreign researchers to work in Estonia as well as the return of Estonian researchers who have worked abroad, in order to contribute to the application of knowledge and experience acquired abroad in Estonia and to expand career choices for researchers early in their careers. In addition to addressing outward migration, we also contribute to ensuring the next generation of researchers and engineers.

As a result of this activity, Estonia will host more researchers with international work experience, including foreign researchers. Postdoctoral training and international research experience will become a natural part of the Estonian research career.

 

Grant period

The grant period depends on the project but must be a minimum of 12 months and a maximum of 24 months. The postdoctoral project must commence no later than December 1st, 2025. The support period begins on the date agreed upon in the contract.

 

Requirements for applicants

The recipient of the grant is the host institution, which is a research and development institution registered in Estonia, a higher education institution, or another private or public sector institution operating in Estonia, where the eligible researcher intends to carry out the postdoctoral project.

Support can be applied for by a postdoctoral researcher who, in the year preceding the application, applied for an MSCA postdoctoral grant (European Fellowship), received a positive outcome (i.e., at least 70 points), but ultimately received a negative funding decision. The application must include the previously unfunded MSCA application and its evaluation results. The postdoctoral researcher must have a supervisor who works at the host institution under an employment contract. The supervisor must have a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification.

During the implementation of the project, the postdoctoral researcher must work at the host institution with a full-time workload of 1.0, and the place of work is Estonia.

 

If the applicant is a company

Companies can also receive grant, just like public research institutions. However, compliance with state aid rules must be considered, and the company must provide additional information about this in the application. The support provided to companies is preferably de minimis aid, but if the company has already exceeded the permitted threshold for de minimis aid, support is granted based on the general block exemption regulation. More information about state aid can be found here. When applying, the company must upload additional information to the tab “Additional Information” of the company’s application form: State Aid Form for Companies (in Estonian).

 

Applying for the grant

Applications are submitted through the Estonian Research Information System (ETIS). To create an ETIS user account, contact the host institution. The application is considered finally submitted once it has been confirmed by the host institution.

 

Application processing

ETAG does not assess the scientific excellence of the applications but relies on the evaluation report of the MSCA postdoctoral grant application. ETAG performs a technical check of the applications, during which the compliance of the application, the host institution, and the postdoctoral researcher with the established requirements is verified.

The grant can be applied for regardless of the research area, but in the application, it is necessary to highlight the project’s connection to the focus areas of the Estonian Research and Development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RDID) Strategy 2021-2035.  The focus areas of the RDIE are: 1) digital solutions in all areas of life; 2) health technologies and services; 3) valorization of local resources; 4) smart and sustainable energy solutions; 5) viable Estonian society, language and cultural space. More detailed information about the focus areas can be found on the page of the focus areas of the strategy (Estonian only).

From the received applications, ETAG forms a ranking according to the assessment scores of the MSCA postdoctoral grant application round.

 

Additional materials

Guide for describing ethical issues in grant applications
Recommended format for data management plan

 

Frequently asked questions

The postdoctoral fellow applying for the grant must have previously applied for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) postdoctoral fellowship, received a positive evaluation (i.e., at least 70 points), but remained unfunded. If the MSCA application did not exceed the evaluation threshold, it cannot be submitted to ETAG.

Where to find the application form?

The application form is available on the Estonian Research Information System (ETIS, www.etis.ee) user account dashboard. To create an ETIS user account, please contact the host institution.

Can the application be submitted to ETAG differ from the MSCA postdoctoral grant application?

No, the project content must be the same as in the original MSCA application. The application submitted to ETAG must include the original MSCA postdoctoral grant application. The supervisor, host institution, and project duration must remain the same as in the original MSCA application.

Does ETAG evaluate the applications?

No, ETAG does not conduct a separate scientific evaluation of the application but bases its decision on the official evaluation report of the MSCA postdoctoral individual grant application.

Are projects from all fields eligible for application?

Yes, there are no restrictions on specific fields for applications submitted to ETAG. However, the application must highlight the project's connection to at least one of the focus areas of the Estonian Research and Development, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Strategy 2021–2035 (TAIE).

The TAIE focus areas are:

  1. Digital solutions in all areas of life
  2. Health technologies and services
  3. Valorization of local resources (wood, mineral resources, secondary raw materials, and waste)
  4. Smart and sustainable energy solutions
  5. Viable Estonian society, language and cultural space.

More information on TAIE focus areas (Estonian only): https://taie.ee/taie-arengukava-tutvustus

What is the Nagoya Protocol?

The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement under the Convention on Biological Diversity that governs access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization.

Further useful information is available on the website of the Ministry of the Environment: https://kliimaministeerium.ee/nagoya-protokoll

How much salary can/should be paid to the postdoctoral researcher based on the unit cost?

The funding is provided based on a unit cost. The funding guidelines do not specify the exact salary amount for the researcher. The salary must comply with the remuneration rules of the host institution. The distribution of the unit cost is agreed upon between the researcher and the host institution.

What should be the researcher’s workload in the project?

The researcher must work with a full-time workload (1.0 FTE) at the host institution located in Estonia and ensure the full implementation of project activities.

How is salary taxed?

The salary includes taxes as required by Estonian legislation. A salary and tax calculator can be a useful tool for reference https://www.kalkulaator.ee/et/palgakalkulaator .

Research funding must be acknowledged in publications, except in cases where external constraints (e.g., journal citation policies) prevent it. Only publications that include a reference to the funding will be considered in the final report.

 

Correct citation of the grant in English:
This work was co-funded by the European Union and Estonian Research Council through the Mobilitas 3.0 (MOB3XXX).

 

Correct citation of the grant in Estonian:
Uurimistööd on kaasrahastanud Euroopa Liit ja Eesti Teadusagentuur programmi Mobilitas 3.0 kaudu (MOB3XXX).

 

For projects under the fifth TAIE focus area, we recommend using the following wording:

In Estonian:
„Uurimistööd on kaasrahastanud Eesti Teadusagentuur (MOB3JDXXX)“.

In English:
"This research has been co-funded by the Estonian Research Council (MOB3JDXXX)."

 

 

Condition and Procedure
Whom do we support?
Main conditions for transferring the project to Estonia
Applying for the grant when transferring an MSCA project to Estonia
Application processing
Additional materials
Frequently Asked Questions

 

The 2025 application round opens on May 5 and will last until September 8 (5:00 PM) Estonian time. When submitting the application, please also observe the deadlines of the institution!

 

Whom do we support?

We support the arrival of postdoctoral researchers to Estonia. The grant is aimed at researchers who have applied for the Marie Skłodowska Curie (MSCA) European Fellowship grant, received a Seal of Excellence (at least 85%), but have not received funding, and who wish to continue their research in Estonia. The activities of MSCA can be read about in more detail here.

Starting from May 2025, Estonian Research Council (ETAG) will also fund MSCA postdoctoral projects (MSCA European Fellowship) and postdoctoral researchers whose original MSCA application was not submitted with an Estonian host institution but who wish to transfer their unfunded project to Estonia. With this initiative, ETAG aims to offer a broader group of young researchers the opportunity to carry out their high-level research project in Estonia.

 

Main conditions for transferring a project to Estonia:

  • The applicant participated in the most recent MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship call (MSCA European Fellowship).
  • The application received at least 85% in the evaluation and was awarded the Seal of Excellence.
  • The postdoctoral project must be related to at least one of the smart specialization areas outlined in the "Estonian Research, Development, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Development Plan 2021–2035" (TAIE only in Estonian):
    1. Digital solutions in all areas of life
    2. Health technologies and services
    3. Valorisation of local resources
    4. Smart and sustainable energy solutions
  • The scientific content of the project may not be changed when transferring it to Estonia.
  • Detailed information about the application conditions can be found [here].

 

Applying for the grant when transferring an MSCA project to Estonia

Applications are submitted via the Estonian Research Information System (ETIS), where the applicant must complete the relevant application form (application code: MOB3JD). The application must include:

  • Project title and host institution in Estonia
  • A project summary in Estonian and English
  • Research and development field
  • Project period
  • The project’s contribution to the TAIE smart specialization areas

In addition, the applicant must:

  • Find a new supervisor from an Estonian institution and describe the supervisor's relevance to the research field
  • If necessary, adjust the work plan based on implementation in Estonia
  • Describe the suitability of the host institution’s research infrastructure for the project
  • Provide a confirmation letter from the supervisor named in the original MSCA proposal, stating their consent for the project to be carried out at an Estonian host institution

The following documents must be attached:

  • The original MSCA proposal
  • The evaluation report
  • The Seal of Excellence certificate

 

Application processing

Applications are processed in ETIS. ETAG does not conduct a scientific evaluation but relies on the MSCA evaluation report. During the assessment, the following aspects are reviewed:

  • Relevance and impact of the project in relation to the TAIE smart specialization areas
  • Suitability of the supervisor at the Estonian host institution. This includes an assessment of:
    • Does the supervisor hold a doctoral degree?
    • Does the suporvisor have experience in the specific R&D field/topic?
    • Has the suporvisor published research results in their field or obtained patents in the past five years?
    • Does the supervisor have prior experience supervising doctoral students and/or postdoctoral researchers?
    • Does the supervisor have experience in leading and/or participating in national and/or international R&D projects during past five years?
  • Adjustments made to the project communication and training plan compared to the original MSCA proposal
  • Suitability of the host institution’s research infrastructure

Applications that pass the technical and eligibility checks will be ranked according to the MSCA overall evaluation score. Projects will be funded in order of ranking until the budget for the call is exhausted.

 

Additional materials

Guide for describing ethical issues in grant applications
Recommended format for data management plan

 

Frequently asked questions

The postdoctoral researcher applying for the grant must have applied in the most recent call for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) postdoctoral fellowship, received the Seal of Excellence (i.e., at least 85 %), but not been awarded funding, and now wishes to carry out their project at an institution in Estonia.

What is the amount of the grant?

The unit cost of an incoming postdoctoral project is €76,000 per year (€6,333.3 per month), which is divided as follows: €60,800 for direct costs and €15,200 for overheads. Of the unit cost, 13.42% (i.e. €10,199.2) must be co-financed by the host institution.

 

How much salary may/must be paid to the postdoctoral researcher based on the unit cost?

The grant is paid based on the unit cost. The grant application guidelines do not specify the researcher's salary. It must comply with the salary regulations of the host institution. The distribution of the unit cost between salary and research expenses is agreed upon between the researcher and the host institution, taking into account the specifics of the project.

 

How is the salary taxed?

The salary budget includes taxes as required by Estonian law. A salary and tax calculator is available as a helpful tool.

 

What workload is required from the researcher in the project?

The researcher must work at the host institution with a full-time workload (1.0 FTE) during the project, be physically based in Estonia, and ensure the full implementation of the project activities.

 

Where can I find the application form?
The application form is available on the Estonian Research Information System (ETIS, www.etis.ee) under the user account dashboard (code MOB3JD).
To create an ETIS user account, you must contact the host institution or the ETIS support team (etis@etag.ee).

 

May the application submitted to ETAG differ from the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship application?
No, the content of the project must be the same as originally proposed in the MSCA application. The application submitted to ETAG must include:

  • The original MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship application
  • The Evaluation Summary Report
  • Proof of the Seal of Excellence
  • In Estonia, the applicant must find a supervisor for the project who is employed under a work contract at the host institution.
  • In addition, the applicant must make adjustments to the project's work plan and schedule compared to the original MSCA application and explain how the infrastructure of the Estonian host institution supports the implementation of the project in Estonia. A specific form must be downloaded, filled in with the necessary information, and attached to the ETIS application. This form is available within the ETIS application as well as [here].

 

Does ETAG evaluate the applications?
No, ETAG does not assess the scientific quality of the application separately. It relies on the official evaluation report from the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship call and the information submitted in ETIS.

 

What is the Nagoya Protocol?
The Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It deals with access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization.
Further information is available in the document: “Explanation of Requirements Arising from the Nagoya Protocol.”

Additional information is also available on the website of the Estonian Ministry of Climate:
https://kliimaministeerium.ee/nagoya-protokoll

As a first step, it's useful to explore the Estonian research landscape and the country's R&D institutions. A good starting point is the Research in Estonia website [link].

Choose an institution or research group working in your field and get in touch with them. Additional information on Estonian research institutions and ongoing projects can be found in the Estonian Research Information System (ETIS).

Once you’ve found a suitable institution, you can also contact its research and development office, which can help direct you to potential supervisors.

Estonia’s smart specialization fields are defined in the Research, Development, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategy 2021–2035 (TAIE Development Plan). These are fields that have both business and economic potential and are the focus of the TAIE Stratedy. The fields are:

  • digital solutions in all areas of life (more information on this link)
  • health technologies and services (link)
  • valorisation of local resources, which is further divided into:
    • food resources (link)
    • wood resources (link)
    • mineral resources (link)
    • secondary raw materials and waste (link)
  • smart and sustainable energy solutions (link)

To assess whether your project is related to one of the smart specialization fields, it is advisable to examine the focus areas of the TAIE Strategy. Evaluate which smart specialization field your project could be linked to and familiarize yourself with it. Each focus area is described in detail, and a roadmap has been developed for each, outlining the priority directions for development in that field. We recommend reviewing the priority directions listed in the roadmap and linking your project to at least one of them.

Research funding must be acknowledged in publications, except in cases where external constraints (e.g., journal citation policies) prevent it. Only publications that include a reference to the funding will be considered in the final report.

Correct citation of the grant in English:

  • This work was co-funded by the European Union and Estonian Research Council through the Mobilitas 3.0 (MOB3XXX).

Correct citation of the grant in Estonian:

  • Uurimistööd on kaasrahastanud Euroopa Liit ja Eesti Teadusagentuur programmi Mobilitas 3.0 kaudu (MOB3XXX).

 

 

 

 

Contact:

Allan Padar
Head of Research Mobility
+372 5686 6722
allan.padar@etag.ee