Ministers from Nordic and Baltic countries discussed cooperation in research for regional security
On 18 May, Regina Valutytė, Vice-Minister of Education, Science and Sport, met with ministers of higher education from Nordic and Baltic countries in Tallinn, Estonia. The aim of the meeting was to strengthen regional cooperation in higher education and to discuss how science can contribute to the regional security, strategic autonomy and economic resilience.
This was the first meeting of ministers of higher education from Nordic and Baltic countries in this format, attended by representatives from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and Estonia.
The Nordic and Baltic countries agreed on the need to further deepen the partnership and to focus on activities that would lead to the greatest impact of cooperation. It was agreed to identify areas where closer regional cooperation could bring the greatest added value to the region, to promote stronger dialogue and cooperation between national science councils, and to explore new opportunities for strengthening the training and international mobility of young researchers. The ministers also see the need to continue to coordinate interests in this format - the meeting of Nordic and Baltic ministers - and to expand scientific cooperation of Nordic and Baltic countries through NordForsk. It is an organisation that brings together research and innovation funding bodies from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden, and runs programmes in a wide range of scientific fields: green farming, health and welfare, bioeconomy, aquaculture, etc.
A discussion was held on how the Nordic and Baltic countries could better coordinate their support for Ukraine’s research sector. It was agreed to draw up a common map of support measures for research and innovation in Ukraine used by Nordic and Baltic countries, and to continue discussions on better coordination of support to ensure greater efficiency and complementarity.
The next meeting of the Nordic and Baltic ministers of higher education in this format is scheduled for next year in Norway.
Last updated: 26-05-2026
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