International researchers bring new ideas and fresh perspectives to Estonian science. But can our research and working environment offer enough support to attract talent to Estonia \u2013 and, just as importantly, to make them stay?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":13786,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[251],"tags":[496,495,393,429,397,424,643,642],"class_list":["post-13833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science","tag-doctorate","tag-doktorantuur-en","tag-education","tag-haridus-en","tag-innovation","tag-innovatsioon-en","tag-international-relations","tag-rahvusvahelised-suhted-en"],"acf":{"postbuilder":[{"acf_fc_layout":"text","type":"text","text":"
In today\u2019s global scientific landscape, there is fierce competition for research talent. Countries and universities are vying to offer the best conditions \u2013 from competitive salaries and state-of-the-art laboratories to international collaboration and support for scientists\u2019 families. Estonia\u2019s small and compact research environment faces the question of how to attract global talent and offer enough motivation for them to come here.<\/p>\r\n
Mikk Kaasik<\/a>, senior researcher at TalTech\u2019s Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology<\/a>, noted that involving international researchers is strategically important for Estonia\u2019s scientific environment. \u201cInternational researchers bring diversity to our science and help us find new solutions,\u201d Kaasik explained, adding that each researcher who comes to Estonia brings unique experiences and perspectives. This is particularly important when tackling complex and interdisciplinary problems.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \u201cInternational researchers bring diversity to our science and help us find new solutions.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n Estonia\u2019s research environment has several strengths \u2013 modern infrastructure, internationally recognized scientists, and close cooperation with foreign universities. In recent years, doctoral student remuneration has also significantly improved to align with European levels. While low pay used to be a major obstacle, this issue has now been largely resolved.<\/p>\r\n The most sought-after scientific talents are from Western and Central Europe, but attracting them to Estonia is not easy. According to Kaasik, the main obstacles are Estonia\u2019s geographical location and modest international visibility. \u201cOur geographical position \u2013 proximity to Russia and a harsh Nordic climate \u2013 may not seem attractive to many. In addition, the high level and achievements of Estonian research institutions and universities are not sufficiently visible to people in Western and Central Europe, especially to young scientists starting out in their careers.\u201d<\/p>\r\n As a small country, Estonia must compete with major research hubs like Germany, France, and the Netherlands, where research funding and international opportunities are often better \u2013 or at least perceived as such. The reputation and visibility of research institutions in the global scientific arena also play a crucial role in attracting talent.<\/p>\r\n In Estonia, a scientific career is often tied to temporary projects within the academic sector, which forces researchers to constantly seek new funding sources. This creates insecurity and may be one of the reasons why some talented researchers leave Estonia. At the same time, involving international talent offers an opportunity to make the research environment more stable and competitive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \u201cOur geographical position \u2013 proximity to Russia and a harsh Nordic climate \u2013 may not seem attractive to many. In addition, the high level and achievements of Estonian research institutions and universities are not sufficiently visible to people in Western and Central Europe, especially to young scientists starting out in their careers.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>","image":null,"align":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":13752},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","type":"text","text":" A concrete example of attracting international talent is the Innochembio<\/em> project<\/a> at TalTech, funded by the European Commission and the Estonian Research Council. The project creates 15 PhD positions in the field of sustainable chemistry and biotechnology to attract young researchers from all over the world to Estonia.<\/p>\r\n A prerequisite for participating in the Innochembio project is that the young researchers must have worked outside Estonia within the last three years. \u201cThe project is part of the Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie programme<\/a>, which has a core objective \u2013 to promote researcher mobility, knowledge exchange, and experience sharing,\u201d explained Mikk Kaasik. Both Estonian researchers who have studied abroad and scientists from other countries are eligible to participate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \u201cThe project is part of the Marie Sk\u0142odowska-Curie programme, which has a core objective \u2013 to promote researcher mobility, knowledge exchange, and experience sharing.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n The PhD students involved in the project do not focus solely on theoretical research but work on practical problems with direct relevance to both science and industry. For example, in collaboration with the company SafePAS, they are developing portable drug analyzers that allow for fast and reliable detection of narcotic substances. Research is also being carried out on increasing crop resilience to pests and environmental changes \u2013 an important step toward sustainable food production.<\/p>\r\n Several research groups focus on organic synthesis, where PhD students develop more efficient and environmentally friendly synthetic methods. One area of interest is solvent-free chemistry, which helps reduce the environmental impact of chemical processes. Other groups are working on analytical chemistry methods that enable real-time monitoring of reaction processes and early detection of possible issues \u2013 reducing waste and increasing efficiency.<\/p>\r\n A key factor in attracting international talent to Estonia is the project structure \u2013 every Innochembio PhD student has both an Estonian supervisor and a co-supervisor from abroad, many of whom are internationally recognized experts in their field. This dual-supervision model is a strong selling point that enhances both the credibility and visibility of the project within the global scientific community.<\/p>\r\n The project also places a strong emphasis on the practical application of scientific research. The PhD students receive more training than usual in areas such as intellectual property, entrepreneurship, and project management, supporting the commercialization of research results and broadening their career opportunities. It is hoped that some of the researchers will choose to stay in Estonia after the project, contributing to both scientific advancement and business development.<\/p>\r\n\r\n According to Kaasik, entering the field of science is more than just a career choice for many \u2013 it is a calling and a mission. Researchers are driven by the desire to discover new knowledge, find answers to complex questions, and contribute to solving societal challenges. At the same time, the skills acquired during a PhD are not limited to academia \u2013 they are highly valued in the business world, especially in product development. \u201cThis is exactly the field where Estonia has the greatest shortage of PhD-level talent,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\r\n Cecilia Sarmiento<\/a>, who moved to Estonia from Peru in the 1990s, is a senior researcher at TalTech\u2019s Department of Chemistry and Biotechnolog<\/a>y and the programme director for chemistry, gene technology, and natural sciences curricula at the School of Science. When asked what Estonia could do better to attract more international students and encourage them to stay longer, Sarmiento emphasized the importance of a better welcome and stronger support. \u201cWe should help them more,\u201d she stressed. \u201cIntegration is not easy. It is very important to communicate with them openly and to help them learn Estonian, because full integration is impossible without the language.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n \u201cIntegration is not easy. It is very important to communicate with them openly and to help them learn Estonian, because full integration is impossible without the language.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>","image":null,"align":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":13838},{"acf_fc_layout":"text","type":"text","text":"\r\n
Can Estonia keep up with the big players?<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n
\r\n
International research teams \u2013 new ideas, new solutions<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n
\r\n
Science as a calling \u2013 and a chance to create something greater<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n
\r\n
A foreign researcher\u2019s perspective on Estonia\u2019s research environment<\/h4>\r\nTamas Pardy<\/a>, originally from Hungary, first came to Estonia as a doctoral student and now divides his time between TalTech and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics<\/a> (BME). He works as a Senior Researcher at the Research Laboratory for Cognitronics, Thomas Johann Seebeck Department of Electronics<\/a> at TalTech. Like many Central Europeans, he was initially drawn to Estonia for personal reasons, but soon recognized the country\u2019s potential as a research destination. \u201cThe research environment here is generally supportive. Bureaucracy is much easier to deal with thanks to the digital infrastructure, and the physical infrastructure is fully up to standard,\u201d Pardy explains.\r\n
\r\n