On Wednesday, 13 May, 2026 the Estonian Academy of Sciences hosted a public lecture on “How Science Gets Transformed: Past and Present”. The lecture was be given by Professor Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, who served as President of the European Research Council (ERC) 2014–2019 and as interim President from 2020–2021.
The photo gallery can be found here (photos by Krista Tamm).
The event was followed by a panel discussion. Panel discussion topics:
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of European science, and what is Estonia’s position?
- What should the European Union prioritize in order to remain competitive internationally, and what should guide Estonia?
- Should the European Union engage in international cooperation, and if so, what kind—especially with major powers such as the USA, China, and Russia — and what role should small countries like Estonia play in this?
The discussion was moderated by Marek Tamm, Vice President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Participants: Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, Mart Toots (Head of the Research, Development and Innovation Department at Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS)), Mari Moora (Vice Rector for Research at the University of Tartu), Lauri Mälksoo (Academy Member, holder of an ERC Starting Grant in 2009–2014 and member of ERC evaluation panels in 2022–2026), Katrin Kiisler (Head of the Research Policy Department, Ministry of Education and Research), Mikk Vahtrus (R&I Sector Manager at the Department of Innovation and Technology, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications).
The event was held in English.
Additional information: Kerlin Remmel, kerlin.remmel@akadeemia.ee