UT Researchers Received Institutional Research Grant of over Four and a Half Million Euros

On 4th of February, the Minister of Education and Research approved the volume of institutional research grant for 2013. The 21 research groups of the University of Tartu were allocated a grant in the total sum of 4,545,500 euro for the years 2013-2018.

The success of the University of Tartu in the first round of institutional research grants confirms that the work of our researchers is at the international level and has good quality. This ensures a significant scientific base which enables to provide our students with a world-class higher education and facilitates the continuous internationalisation of the University of Tartu,” Marco Kirm, the Vice Rector for Research says.

Out of research groups of the University of Tartu, the largest research grant was obtained by the researchers of the Faculty of Science and Technology. The research topic “Thin-film Structures for Nanoelectronic Applications and Functional Coatings” of Väino Sammelselg, a Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in UT, was granted 448,000 euro. The working group of Ülo Mander, a Professor of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology, was allocated 420,000 euro for the research of global warming and circulation of matter in landscape.

Among others, research grant was also provided for the working group of Margus Lember, a Professor of Propaedeutics of Internal Diseases, for the research of associations between chronic diseases and ageing, bone, fat, muscle changes and impact of endocrine factors; for the working group of Jüri Allik, a Professor of Experimental Psychology, for the research of psychological mechanisms of cognitive and personality processes; and for the purpose of research of spatial mobility of population and development of city regions, a grant was provided for the research group of Rein Ahas, a Professor of Human Geography of the University of Tartu. For more information on other successful institutional research grants of the University of Tartu, please see the directive of the Minister of Education and Research here.

The institutional research grant provided by the Estonian Research Council for the first time enables research and development institutions fund high-level research and development activities and update and maintain the infrastructure necessary therefore.