Examples of collaboration
Fostering better measurement science in chemistry
The University of Tartu offers a high quality master programme in
applied measurement science (in English) and attracts students from
across the world.
Measurement Science in Chemistry is a master's degree
programme jointly delivered by a consortium of nine
universities, with the JRC acting as mentor. It offers education
in measurement science which is needed to obtain reliable
results for chemical and bio-analytical measurements. The
consortium was awarded the European Chemistry Thematic
Network Association (ECTNA) Euromaster® quality label in
2008. Between 2008 and 2010, the University of Tartu acted
as coordinator of the Euromaster consortium.
Today, the University of Tartu offers a high quality master
programme in applied measurement science (in English)
and attracts students from across the world. In 2011, the
University of Tartu organised, in collaboration with the JRC,
the Euromaster Measurement Science in Chemistry annual
Summer school. The event, which took place in Lepanina,
Estonia, brought together 30 students and delivered intensive
training courses covering advanced topics of measurement
science in chemistry.
Estonia
and its collaboration with the European Commission’s in-house science service,
Joint Research Centre
As the Commission's in-house science service,
the Joint Research Centre (JRC)'s mission
is to provide EU policies with independent,
evidence-based scientific and technical
support throughout the whole policy cycle.
The European Network of GMO Laboratories
The JRC has been nominated as the European Union Reference
Laboratory on Genetically Modified Food and Feed (EU-RL GMFF).
Specifically, the JRC is responsible for the EU validation of GMO
detection methods, which is part of the EU regulatory approval
process for GMOs. The JRC is assisted by the European Network
of GMO Laboratories (ENGL), in which the Estonian Research
Institute of Agriculture in Saku and the National Institute of
Chemical Physics and Biophysics in Tallinn participate.
The ENGL is a unique network of experts on GMO analysis and
includes about 100 laboratories from the 27 EU Member States as
well as Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.
Working in close cooperation with policy
Directorates-General, the JRC addresses
key societal challenges while stimulating
innovation through developing new methods,
tools and standards, and sharing its knowhow with the Member States, the scientific
community and international partners.
Supporting the development
and implementation of pollution
legislation
Key priorities
Economic and
Monetary Union
(EMU)
© A.Brink
The Estonian Environmental Research Centre in Tallinn has supported the
harmonisation activities of the JRC through successful participation in various
quality assurance programmes for gaseous and particulate air pollutants over
the past few years.
Contact the JRC
European Commission
Joint Research Centre (JRC)
External Communication Unit
CDMA 04/168
B-1049 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 29 74181
Web: http://www.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
Contact: http://www.jrc.ec.europa.eu/contact
National Contact Point
Katrin Kalla
Ministry of Education and Research
Munga Street 18
50088 Tartu
Estonia
Tel: +372 735 0228
Web: http://www.hm.ee
Email: katrin.kalla@hm.ee
SPB.05.177 © European Union 2012 - 10-2012
The Joint Research Centre operates the "European Reference
Laboratory for Air Pollution (ERLAP)" at its premises in
Ispra. The laboratory's activities are mainly dedicated to
supporting the development of new air pollution legislation
and supporting Member States and Accession Countries in the
proper implementation of existing legislation.
Within this context the Estonian Environmental Research
Centre in Tallinn has supported the harmonisation activities
of the JRC through successful participation in various
quality assurance programmes for gaseous and particulate
air pollutants over the past few years. The institute is also
actively contributing to the national Air Quality Reference
Laboratories (AQUILA) network, accountable for issues such as
implementation and metrology of air pollution measurements.
Internal market:
growth, jobs and
innovation
Low-carbon
economy and
resource efficiency
(environment,
climate change,
energy, transport)
Agriculture and
global food security
Public health, safety
and security
Nuclear safety and
security
•• 2 800 personnel
•• 7 scientific Institutes
•• 5 sites in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the
Netherlands and Spain.
Examples of JRC partners in Estonia
National authorities and laboratories
Across Europe, the JRC has built up successful
partnerships with a large number of public and
private organisations under the EU Research
Framework Programmes.
The JRC collaborates with its Estonian partners on:
Framework Programme projects
Collaboration agreements
11
6
Scientific networks
22
Together they work in a wide range of areas
including air quality, biodiversity, climate change
science, freshwater research, land use, landscape
science and rural development, early warning
systems, spatial information infrastructure,
radiological information exchange, early warning
systems, nuclear energy training programmes,
genetically modified organisms (GMOs),
nanoparticles, and metrology in chemistry.
Joint
Research
Centre
•Agricultural Research Centre, Estonian Ministry
of Agriculture
•Central Laboratory of Chemistry
•Chemicals Notification Centre
•Estonian Environmental Research Centre
•Estonian Ministry of Health
•Estonian Ministry of the Environment
•Estonian Radiation Protection Centre
•Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics
Academia
•Estonian University of Life Sciences
•Tallinn University of Technology
•University of Tartu
Business
•Quretec
•Regio
The Joint Research Centre and Estonia
JRC collaboration with Estonian research organisations – examples
Framework Programme projects
The JRC is involved in more than 140 collaborative research
projects and networks under Europe’s Seventh Framework
Programme for research and technological development
(FP7). This enables the JRC to form partnerships with
major European and international research players. Project
activities may involve work carried out at JRC facilities
which results in increased access to and use of the JRC’s
specialised infrastructures and databases by scientists and
researchers. Some examples of Framework programme
projects which involve Estonian partners are:
Detection of endpoints and biomarkers of repeated dose
toxicity (DETECTIVE)
•• Quretec, Tartu
This network creates a screening procedure to identify and investigate human biomarkers in cellular models of long-term toxicity in
human target cells.
Mediterranean and the Black Sea. This project will build on existing capacities to develop new approaches that support coastal and
maritime policy.
Climate change and European freshwater ecosystems
(REFRESH)
•• Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu
The project consists of a process-based evaluation of the specific
adaptive measures that might be taken to minimise the consequences
of climate change on freshwater quantity, quality and biodiversity.
SeaDataNet II: Pan-European infrastructure for ocean and
marine data management (SEADATANET II)
•• Tallinn University of Technology
The overall objective of this project is to upgrade the present infrastructure into an operationally robust system and one for providing
up-to-date and high quality access to ocean and marine metadata,
data and data products.
Scientific networks
Quantification of ecological services for sustainable
agriculture (QUESSA)
•• Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu
The project aims to identify the key semi-natural habitats (SNH)
and on-farm biodiversity that optimise ecological services. The
results are designed to inform local, national and EU stakeholders
on how to improve the ecological services from SNH and include a
novel web-based tool.
Graduate and Executive Nuclear Training and Lifelong
Education (GENTLE)
•• University of Tartu
GENTLE brings together leading European academic and research
institutions as well as industry stakeholders in a pan-European
effort towards education and training (E&T) on nuclear energy. The
project is aimed at students through research and practical experience in nuclear energy laboratories, and to young professionals
through an executive masters course.
Development of reference methods for hazard identification,
risk assessment and Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) of
engineered nanomaterials (NANOVALID)
•• National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Tallinn
This project aims to address the risks of engineered nanomaterials
on humans and the environment by bringing together international
scientific knowledge and expertise.
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (PEGASO)
•• AIREL, Tartu
Supports the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in the
The JRC collaborates with over 650 partner organisations
in around 60 scientific networks worldwide which share
a common interest in specific research areas. This
collaboration is essential for the JRC’s work on harmonising
and validating methods and measurements, establishing
common standards, and providing scientific and technical
support for the implementation of EU legislation. Some
examples of scientific networks which involve Estonian
partners are:
Metrology in chemistry for academia (AcadeMIC)
•• University of Tartu
This forum fosters the advancement of education in in metrology in chemistry and related topics addressed in the standard ISO/
IEC-17025.
Air Quality Reference Laboratories (AQUILA)
•• Estonian Environmental Research Centre, Tallinn
A network of Air Quality Reference Laboratories which carries out
quality assurance programmes with the participation of National Air
Quality Reference Laboratories in Member States.
Combustion and Industry Expert Panel (C&I)
•• Estonian Ministry of the Environment, Tallinn
This is a panel responsible for the chapters on the Atmospheric
Emissions Inventory Guidebook which deals with combustion and
industrial activities. The Panel works under the auspices of the UN
Economic Commission for Europe and its Task Force on Emission
Inventories and Projections.
The information contained in this leaflet is correct at the time of compilation but may be subject to change.
European Network of GMO Laboratories (ENGL)
•• Agricultural Research Centre, Estonian Ministry of Agriculture
•• National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Tallinn
This network solves the technical and analytical problems which
laboratories face in food and the environment. It aims to harmonise Member State approaches in relation to genetically modified
organisms.
EU National Coordinators for Testing Methods (EU NCTM)
•• Chemicals Notification Centre, Tallinn
In order to ensure a harmonisation of test methods in as wide
an international context as possible, according to the principle of
Mutual Acceptance of Data, the European Commission participates
in the OECD Test Guidelines Programme.
European Network of Freshwater Research Organisations
(EurAqua)
•• Tallinn University of Technology
A network for the development of European freshwater science and
its dissemination on a European level which provides significant
input to the scientific basis of European water management.
Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE)
•• Estonian Land Board, Tallinn
•• Estonian Ministry of the Environment, Tallinn
This infrastructure facilitates the sharing of spatial information
between Member States on the environment or on activities that
may have a direct or indirect impact on the environment.
European Research Network for Sustainable Development of
Multifunctional Landscape (Landscape Tomorrow)
•• University of Tartu
•• Tallinn University of Technology
A European research network which brings together the European
expertise in the field of land use, landscape science and rural
development.
Official European Reference Laboratory (EURL) - National
Reference Laboratory (NRL) Network on Food Contact
Materials
•• Central Laboratory of Chemistry, Tallinn
This is the official network of national reference laboratories which
have been nominated by their competent authorities to support the
European Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials.
Technical meeting on biocidal substances (TM Biocides)
•• Chemicals Notification Centre, Tallinn
The biocides work area provides technical and scientific support to
national authorities and the European Commission for the approval
of active substances in biocidal products.
European Community Urgent Radiological Information
Exchange (REM-ECURIE)
•• Estonian Radiation Protection Centre, Tallinn
This information exchange system was set up to allow for the early
notification and exchange of information in the event of a radiological or nuclear emergency.
Radioactivity environmental monitoring data bank
(REM-REMdb)
•• Estonian Radiation Protection Centre, Tallinn
A data bank for information provided by Member States on levels of
radioactive contamination of the various compartments of the environment (air, water, soil) which is used to produce annual monitoring
reports.
Collaboration agreements
The JRC has around 200 operational collaboration
agreements and Memoranda of Understanding with public
and private research organisations, universities, and
national and international bodies. The majority of these
agreements concern joint research, information sharing and
the exchange of personnel. Some examples of collaboration
agreements with Estonian partners are:
Training in Metrology in Chemistry (TrainMiC)
•• University of Tartu
European programme for life-long learning and training of
practitioners of chemical measurements in metrology in chemistry, related to the metrological requirements of ISO/IEC-17025
for chemical and bio-analytical measurements in many different
sectors.
Collaboration agreement on nuclear emergency information
•• Estonian Radiation Protection Centre, Tallinn
Nuclear emergency information exchange with EU Member States
under Council Decision 87/600/Euratom.
Collaboration agreement on the Euraqua Network of
European Freshwater Research Organisations
•• Tallinn University of Technology
This collaboration agreement relates to the Estonian participation
in the Euraqua network which aims to foster the development of
European freshwater science.