Agenda Profile: Jaak Valge
Overview of the state of Research and Development and government policy in this field.
2024-01-23
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Political Position
The political position is highly critical of the effectiveness of the government’s research and development (R&D) policy, stressing that investments are failing to translate into economic growth. The primary focus is on the decline in economic productivity, which is attributed to the mass migration of cheap labor. Furthermore, criticism is leveled against the excessive ideologization of the R&D sector and its weak connection to the needs of Estonian society. The policy aims to protect both performance (productivity) and core values (national sciences, the Estonian language).
2 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates profound expertise in R&D funding, labor productivity analysis, and academic evaluation criteria. Specific economic data (GDP ratio, comparison with Latvia) are utilized, and references are made to science policy documents, such as the Leiden Manifesto. Separate emphasis is placed on knowledge concerning the internal evaluation mechanisms of the Estonian Research Council (ETAg) and the linguistic distribution of doctoral theses.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The rhetorical style is formal, analytical, and strongly critical, relying on logical arguments and comparative data. The tone is concerned and urgent, particularly regarding the position of the economy and the Estonian language. References to authoritative sources (the Leiden Manifesto) and clichés ("The devil often hides in the details") are employed to lend more weight to the arguments.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
The pattern of activity is limited to two calls during a single sitting day, which are directed at the Prime Minister and address the government's report on the state of research and development (R&D). This points to active participation in debates and the raising of questions regarding government policy.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
The main criticism is directed at the government’s economic policy, which favors cheap labor, and the Estonian Research Council (ETAg), whose evaluation criteria are overly ideologized and oriented toward international trends. The criticism is policy- and procedure-based, focusing on the inefficient use of funding and the lack of transparency in the evaluation system.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The cooperation style is primarily adversarial, but the speaker expresses agreement with the previously speaking colleague regarding the necessity of reducing project-based structures and bureaucracy in the R&D sector. There is no direct mention of broad collaboration or a willingness to compromise.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is strongly national, emphasizing the specific characteristics of the Estonian economy and the needs of society, which science should address. Separate emphasis is placed on the declining role of the Estonian language as a language of science, and the necessity of supporting the humanities and national studies.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Economic perspectives favor innovation and growth in labor productivity, while strongly opposing the influx of cheap labor, which is seen as hindering corporate innovation efforts. There is a demand for more effective utilization and economic transferability of R&D investments, citing the superior productivity of Latvia, Poland, and Hungary.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Among the social issues highlighted is the opposition to the ideologization of science, citing the requirement for gender equality in research evaluation as a criterion that compromises scientific standards. Also of significance is defending the position of the Estonian language as a language of science and supporting national research fields.
2 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The legislative focus is on reforming the science policy and the R&D funding system, requiring changes to the evaluation criteria for research grants. The objectives are reducing bureaucracy, mitigating the reliance on project-based funding, and increasing the efficiency of doctoral studies without devaluing the standard. Preference is given to the de-ideologization of the humanities and social sciences and making them Estonia-centric.
2 Speeches Analyzed