In the Republic of Estonia, the Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for the development of research policy, and the Research Policy Council has been established within the Ministry as an advisory body.

The Research Policy Council at the Ministry of Education and Research prepares documents developing Estonian research and development policy by:

• analysing education and research development trends in Estonia and elsewhere, based on an integrated treatment of the materials of the Estonian Higher Education Accreditation Centre, the Scientific Competence Council, the relevant European Union initiatives, etc.;
• developing long-term objectives on the basis of policy studies and preparing mid-term and long-term development plans for Estonian research and development activities in cooperation with the Innovation Policy Council (at the same time taking into account aspects related to integration within the European Research Area, the development of national culture, etc.);
• organising international evaluation of research and development policy, relevant strategic plans and application instruments, monitoring the purposefulness and effectiveness of financing in achieving the goals set by the research policy, guiding the development of the country’s research and development institutions.