Draft Law on the Organisation of Research and Development Activities and Innovation (554 SE) - Second Reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2025-06-12 04:02
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 15
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 27m
AI Summaries: 15/15 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's agenda item concerned the second reading of Bill 554, the Draft Act on the Organization of Research, Development, and Innovation (TAIKS), initiated by the Government of the Republic. Margit Sutrop, the rapporteur for the Cultural Affairs Committee, provided a comprehensive overview of the bill's proceedings, which began during the tenure of the previous composition of the Riigikogu. The bill aims to establish a research ethics committee and a commission for handling misconduct cases, specify funding methods, and assign responsibility to the Ministry of Education and Research for coordinating public sector RDI activities. Although no amendments were submitted after the first reading, the Cultural Affairs Committee involved 22 interest groups in the preparation of the bill. Based on their feedback, 37 amendments were introduced. The main debates centered on the definitions of 'scientist' and 'research ethics,' the stability of funding (especially for smaller institutions), and the protection of academic freedom. Consequently, the minister's authority to regulate the rights and obligations of research institutions at the regulation level was removed. During the negotiations, Tiit Maran and Tõnis Lukas also stressed the importance of academic freedom and stable funding, commending the thoroughness with which the bill was refined.
Decisions Made 3
The second reading of Draft Bill 554 was concluded.
The 37 amendment proposals submitted by the Culture Committee were fully taken into account.
It was proposed that the draft bill be placed on the agenda of the Riigikogu Plenary Session for its third reading on June 17th, and that the final vote be conducted.
Most Active Speaker
Margit Sutrop (GBY6yoFMs7U) was the most active speaker, delivering a detailed report on behalf of the Culture Committee regarding the processing of the draft bill, the involvement of interest groups, and the substance of the 37 proposed amendments. Furthermore, she served as the representative of the lead committee.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The 16th item on the Riigikogu agenda concerns the second reading of Bill 554, initiated by the Government of the Republic, regarding the organization of research and development and innovation, and the rapporteur is Margit Sutrop, a member of the Cultural Affairs Committee.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Margit Sutrop offers a comprehensive overview of the legislative process for the long-anticipated Research and Development and Innovation Management Bill (TAIKS). She highlighted the extensive inclusion and input from stakeholders, noting that the bill aims to establish a national framework for the organization of R&D and innovation, specify funding mechanisms, guarantee research ethics (including procedures for handling misconduct), and designate the Ministry of Education and Research as the cross-ministerial coordinator. Protracted debates centered on refining definitions, ensuring stable funding for smaller institutions, and safeguarding academic autonomy. This process led to the submission of 37 amendments, and the committee now recommends concluding the second reading of the draft legislation and adopting it swiftly.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speech outlines Margit Sutrop's presentation of the TAIKS draft law, which aims to establish a national framework for research and development. This framework includes a research ethics committee and a mechanism for addressing misconduct, ensuring the transparency and stability of funding, and facilitating inter-ministerial coordination, coupled with broad stakeholder engagement and the clarification of key definitions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the esteemed speaker, and there were no questions.
Margit Sutrop
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He expressed sincere thanks to the audience.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announces that the negotiations are open and invites his colleague Tiit Maran here.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran praises the adopted law but strongly emphasizes the critical importance of protecting academic freedom, warning against political influence in the funding of research and demanding the assurance of diverse viewpoints. He also stresses the role of universities in overseeing the ethical implementation of free speech and proposes that the definition of national sciences be expanded in the future to include studies of the living environment that directly impact Estonian identity.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran emphasizes the protection of academic freedom and the responsibility of universities to ensure freedom of speech and decision-making within ethical limits. He values diverse debate and warns against its misuse, stressing that the concept of national sciences must reflect the influence of culture and environment on Estonian identity, and seeks broader funding for research into landscapes, floristics, and faunistics.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
He is asking for three extra minutes.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Estonian culture developed right here in Estonia in this specific form, and it is crucial for national studies to also consider research into biodiversity and landscape, ensuring these areas are better integrated and funded in the future.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran stresses that since Estonian culture is inextricably linked to the landscape and biota of Maarjamaa, it is crucial, in the context of national studies, to guarantee adequate funding specifically for those landscape and biodiversity research projects that would otherwise go unfunded. He adds that, to achieve this, better methods for writing proposals must be found in the future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman offers his thanks and invites colleague Tõnis Lukas to speak next.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Tõnis Lukas, on behalf of the Isamaa faction, recognizes the bill's finalizers for their thorough work and compromises, noting that the lengthy procedure has brought the legislation to maturity. He considers the agreements regarding the proportions of science funding to be especially important, as they offer hope that the current negative trend—the reduction in funding for basic scientific instruments and the scattering of money among various ministries—will finally cease.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
This draft bill has matured through a long process and, thanks to the thorough work, compromises, the refinement of the explanatory memorandum, and the contribution led by Margit Sutrop, it offers hope for better science funding, greater coordination, and peaceful cooperation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
We have reviewed the 37 amendments proposed by the Culture Committee to Draft Bill 554, and the leading committee decided to fully incorporate them. As a result, the completion of the second reading has been finalized.