Visit to the European Parliament 10.06.2026
The Estonian Research Council’s coordinators’ development programme concluded in June with a study visit to Brussels. The year-long programme focused on the preparation and coordination of Horizon Europe projects and on strengthening the international collaboration capacity of research institutions.
Representing the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA), Anna Tommingas, Head of the Timber Architecture Research Center PAKK, and Hedi Meigas, Head of the Design Research Centre, participated in the programme. Over the course of nine months, participants explored the entire lifecycle of Horizon Europe projects, including partner search, work plan and budget development, proposal evaluation criteria, grant and consortium agreements, intellectual property, project management, collaboration processes, and the use of artificial intelligence in proposal preparation. The programme also covered topics such as research ethics, gender equality, open science, research impact, and the dissemination of research results.
The programme culminated in a study visit to Brussels, where participants gained first-hand insight into the development of European research and innovation policy and the functioning of European research collaboration. During the visit, meetings were held with representatives of the Estonian Research Council’s Brussels Office, the Permanent Representation of Estonia to the European Union, and experts from the European Commission. Discussions focused on representing Estonia’s interests in European research policy, decision-making processes within EU institutions, the role of research networks, and the strategic visibility of universities within the European research landscape. The programme also included a visit to the European Parliament and a study visit to the University of Antwerp, where participants learned about research grant support systems and best practices for supporting Horizon Europe projects.
The programme provided a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences with colleagues from other Estonian universities and research institutions, as well as to establish new professional connections. The knowledge and experience gained throughout the programme will contribute to further strengthening EKA’s research activities and international cooperation.
The Brussels study visit was funded through the Erasmus+ mobility programme, which aimed to support participants’ professional development in research project coordination, understanding European research policy, and international collaboration.
