Research grants are aimed at supporting high-quality R&D projects and the accompanying research activities.

All researchers who work at positively evaluated Estonian R&D institutions, regardless of their citizenship or country of origin, can apply for research funding. The grants are financed from the Estonian state budget. The calls are organised by the Estonian Research Council. The Evaluation Committee of the Estonian Research Council is responsible for the evaluation of the applications as well as for making the funding proposals.

On a regular basis, the following research grants can be applied for:

• Postdoctoral grants, starting grants, and team grants are aimed at supporting high-quality basic or applied research projects carried out at the Estonian R&D institutions.
• Proof-of-concept grants are aimed at supporting the implementation of experimental development projects at the Estonian R&D institutions.

In exceptional calls, specific grants can be applied for, e.g the 2020 target grants.

In 2023 the call for Centres of Excellence grants took place. A Centre of Excellence is a scientific consortium which aims to develop the cooperation and joint activities of exceptionally high-level Estonian research groups.