Technology, innovation and R&D
The purpose of research and development (R&D) is to acquire new knowledge or use existing knowledge in a novel way. R&D means, for example, the improvement of a product or work process. R&D ends when the main product is developed and the focus is shifted to production planning or market expansion. The main features of R&D are novelty, creativity, ambiguity, systematicity and transferability.
Novelty means discovering something new, and with that goal in mind, researchers carry out studies at universities and research institutes. In business, novelty refers to new discoveries or technologies that have not been used in the field or industry before. Creativity refers to new approaches and ideas that complement existing knowledge. The input of researchers is also needed to meet the requirement of creativity.
There is always a certain amount of ambiguity in R&D, as it is often difficult to assess the end result, the time input or the potential gains. It should be possible to put the research results into practice, and other researchers should be able to replicate them in future projects. Systematicity is assumed: the process and results must always be documented.
Research and development statistics provide information on
- the size of investments in R&D;
- state funding of R&D.
The statistics are used to assess the volume of R&D in research institutes and enterprises, and to plan and monitor research and development at the national level.
The new version of the Estonian Classification of Economic Activities – EMTAK 2025 – is in force since 1 January 2025. EMTAK 2025 reflects today’s economic environment and activities. Data based on the updated classification are published by Statistics Estonia starting from 2026. Read more on our website.
Scientists and engineers by gender, 2015–2024
| Males | Females | |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4,030 | 3,151 |
| 2016 | 3,864 | 2,981 |
| 2017 | 4,245 | 3,099 |
| 2018 | 4,082 | 3,199 |
| 2019 | 4,451 | 3,283 |
| 2020 | 4,981 | 3,678 |
| 2021 | 5,268 | 3,765 |
| 2022 | 5,325 | 4,045 |
| 2023 | 5,903 | 4,460 |
| 2024 | 6,765 | 4,715 |
Share of R&D expenditure in GDP, 2010–2024
Unit: %
| Expenditure on research and development as percentage of GDP | Higher education sector expenditure on research and development as % of GDP | Government sector expenditure on research and development as % of GDP | Private non-profit sector expenditure on research and development as % of GDP | Business enterprise sector expenditure on research and development as % of GDP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1.58 | 0.60 | 0.17 | 0.02 | 0.79 |
| 2011 | 2.30 | 0.64 | 0.19 | 0.02 | 1.45 |
| 2012 | 2.10 | 0.68 | 0.20 | 0.02 | 1.21 |
| 2013 | 1.70 | 0.72 | 0.15 | 0.02 | 0.81 |
| 2014 | 1.41 | 0.62 | 0.15 | 0.02 | 0.61 |
| 2015 | 1.44 | 0.60 | 0.16 | 0.03 | 0.66 |
| 2016 | 1.22 | 0.43 | 0.14 | 0.02 | 0.63 |
| 2017 | 1.25 | 0.50 | 0.15 | 0.02 | 0.59 |
| 2018 | 1.38 | 0.62 | 0.16 | 0.02 | 0.59 |
| 2019 | 1.59 | 0.56 | 0.16 | 0.02 | 0.85 |
| 2020 | 1.73 | 0.58 | 0.17 | 0.03 | 0.95 |
| 2021 | 1.75 | 0.59 | 0.16 | 0.02 | 0.98 |
| 2022 | 1.77 | 0.58 | 0.18 | 0.01 | 0.99 |
| 2023 | 1.83 | 0.60 | 0.16 | 0.02 | 1.06 |
| 2024 | 1.99 | 0.62 | 0.16 | 0.02 | 1.19 |
65% of people and 34% of enterprises use AI
The latest information technology surveys conducted by Statistics Estonia show that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) increased significantly in 2026 compared with the year before. AI use was up both among enterprises and among individuals, with the use of AI tools for private purposes rising by 53%. There was also a rise in the use of internet-connected devices, such as smart TVs and smart watches.
The share of innovative enterprises in Estonia is growing
According to Statistics Estonia, 65% of Estonian enterprises have introduced product or process innovations. The share of innovative enterprises is the highest in financial and insurance activities and in information and communication.
Nearly half the people in Estonia use artificial intelligence
The latest data from Statistics Estonia's internet use and digital skills survey reveal that there are now 564,800 households with an internet connection, accounting for 95% of all households in Estonia. Compared with 2024, the number of households with internet access has increased by 20,000.