Regular evaluation of research and development activities

The regular evaluation of research and development (R&D) activities is an external assessment of universities, universities of applied sciences, and research and development institutions. Its purpose is to analyse, on the basis of internationally recognised criteria, the scientific and societal impact and sustainability of an institution’s research and development activities. R&D activities are evaluated by an evaluation committee whose external expert members are recognised researchers in their respective fields with experience in the evaluation of research and development activities.

Only institutions that receive a positive evaluation are eligible to use the main state funding instruments for research (e.g. state budget-funded research grants). A positive evaluation also grants universities the right to offer doctoral studies.

The University of Tartu underwent its most recent regular evaluation in 2024, and was the only institution in Estonia to receive a positive evaluation in all six fields of research and development:

• Natural sciences
• Engineering and technology
• Medical and health sciences
• Agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine
• Social sciences
• Humanities and the arts

In total, twenty institutions in Estonia received a positive evaluation.

In its current form, regular evaluations will no longer take place, as under the new Research, Development and Innovation Organisation Act, which entered into force on 1 October 2025, research evaluation has been integrated into institutional accreditation. Based on the Higher Education Act, institutional accreditation is “an external evaluation in the course of which the capability of a higher education institution to ensure and promote the quality of the teaching, research, development and creative activities of the higher education institution, including the compliance of management, work organisation, teaching, research, development and creative activities and of the teaching, research, development and creative activities environment with legislation, the goals and objectives of the higher education institution and international agreements is assessed”.

The University of Tartu’s next institutional accreditation is scheduled for 2029.