Saarma: Estonian Academy of Sciences needs independent budget and additional funding

Estonian Academy of Sciences president Mart Saarma has proposed allocating a separate budget line for the academy starting next year, tied to 0.01% of Estonia's GDP. According to Saarma, this change would ensure the academy's independence and enable scientists to advise state leaders more effectively.

Estonian Academy of Sciences president Mart Saarma has put forward a proposal to create a separate budget line for the academy starting next year, with the amount linked to 0.01 percent of Estonia's GDP. Currently, the academy does not have its own independent budget, which Saarma believes limits the institution's operational capacity.

Saarma stressed that such a funding change would give the academy the necessary independence for scientists to advise the country's top leadership more effectively and impartially. A separate budget line would shield the academy from political pressure and ensure more stable research planning.

The Estonian Academy of Sciences is the highest-level research institution in Estonia, bringing together the country's leading scientists and playing a key role in shaping science policy. The current funding structure, in which the academy lacks an independent budget position, has raised questions about the institution's independence and long-term sustainability.