MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON COOPERATION BETWEEN
ESTONIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES,
LITHUANIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, ESTONIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION
FOR UNESCO, LATVIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO AND
LITHUANIAN NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR UNESCO
Estonian Academy of Sciences, reg. No 74000168, represented by its President Mart Saarma,
with the official e-mail address for electronic signature
[email protected],
Latvian Academy of Sciences, reg. No 90000022543, represented by President Ivars Kalviņš,
with the official e-mail address for electronic signature
[email protected],
Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, reg. No 111958852, represented by its President Vytautas
Nekrošius, with the official e-mail address for electronic signature
[email protected],
Estonian Academy of Sciences, Latvian Academy of Sciences and Lithuanian Academy of
Sciences separately referred to as the “National Academy of Sciences” and collectively as the
“National Academies of Sciences”,
and
Estonian National Commission for UNESCO, reg. No 70000941, represented by its
Secretary-General Kerli Gutman-Normak, with the official e-mail address for electronic
signature
[email protected],
Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, reg. No 90000089305, represented by its
Secretary-General Baiba Moļņika, with the official e-mail address for electronic signature
[email protected],
Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO, reg. No 188734151, represented by its
Secretary-General Miglė Mašanauskienė, with the official e-mail address for electronic
signature
[email protected],
Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian National Commissions for UNESCO separately referred to
as the “National Commission for UNESCO”, collectively as “National Commissions for
UNESCO” and together with the National Academies of Sciences as the “Parties”,
mindful of UNESCO Call to Action “Closing the Gender Gap in Science”,
hereby agree on the following:
1. Purpose of the Agreement
1.1. The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (hereinafter the “Agreement”) is
to regulate the cooperation between the Parties regarding establishing the “Women in
Science Baltic Fellowship” (hereinafter the “Fellowships”) by the National Academies
of Sciences in cooperation with National Commissions for UNESCO to support young
women in their pursuit of a career in the field of scientific research in the Baltic States
and organising the contest for the “Women in Science Baltic Fellowship” in 2026
(hereinafter the “Contest”).
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1.2. Rules and regulations of the 2026 Contest are attached to the Memorandum of
Understanding as Annex 1.
2. Obligations of the Parties
2.1. Each National Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the National Commission for
UNESCO of the relevant country shall:
2.1.1. ensure the funding necessary for the Fellowships, including relevant taxes if
applicable, and cover the costs of organising the Contest;
2.1.2. organise the submission and evaluation process of the applications for the
Fellowships involving the relevant Jury of the Contest;
2.1.3. organise the communication for the Contest;
2.1.4. be responsible for following data protection requirements at all levels
(institutional, national, international).
2.2. The Parties shall agree on:
2.2.1. the timetable of the Contest;
2.2.2. the general principles of the Contest and the number and size of fellowships to
be awarded;
2.2.3. the general principles and timetable for the communication activities of the
Contest.
3. Term of the Agreement
3.1. This Agreement shall enter into force upon signature and shall be in effect till 31
December 2026.
Signatures:
Estonian Academy of Sciences: Estonian National Commission for UNESCO:
(signed electronically) (signed electronically)
Mart Saarma Kerli Gutman-Normak
President Secretary-General
Latvian Academy of Sciences: Latvian National Commission for UNESCO:
(signed electronically) (signed electronically)
Ivars Kalviņš Baiba Moļņika
President Secretary-General
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Lithuanian Academy of Sciences: Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO:
(signed electronically) (signed electronically)
Vytautas Nekrošius Miglė Mašanauskienė
President Secretary-General
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Annex 1
RULES AND REGULATIONS 2026
1. In the fields of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Medical and Health
Sciences, Agricultural and veterinary sciences 1 the “Women in Science Baltic
Fellowship“ will grant 6 fellowships as follows:
− 1 fellowship of 7000 euros in Estonia to a Doctor of Sciences;
− 1 fellowship of 7000 euros in Latvia to a Doctor of Sciences;
− 1 fellowship of 7000 euros in Lithuania to a Doctor of Sciences;
− 1 fellowship of 7000 euros in Estonia to a Doctoral Candidate;
− 1 fellowship of 7000 euros in Latvia to a Doctoral Candidate;
− 1 fellowship of 7000 euros in Lithuania to a Doctoral Candidate.
2. In the field of Social Sciences and Humanities, the “Women in Science Baltic
Fellowship” will grant 3 fellowships as follows:
− 1 fellowship of 7000 euros will be granted in Estonia to a Doctor of Sciences;
− 1 fellowship of 7000 euros will be granted in Latvia to a Doctor of Sciences;
− 1 fellowship of 7000 euros will be granted in Lithuania to a Doctor of Sciences;
3. Granting the Fellowship to the Doctor of Sciences is subject to the condition that no
more than 7 (seven) years has passed since the Doctor of Sciences has obtained her
doctorate. If the applicant has been on maternity leave after obtaining her doctorate the
time limit shall be extended by 18 months per each maternity leave.
4. The amount of the Fellowship must be used for the pursuit of scientific research in the
relevant Baltic country. Fellowship awardees shall submit a free-form report on the
progress of their research at the end of the agreed funding period.
5. The recipients of the Fellowships will be publicly announced in autumn 2026 and
awarded at a joint ceremony taking place in Tallinn, Estonia.
1
OECD (2015), Frascati Manual 2015: Guidelines for Collecting and Reporting Data on Research and
Experimental Development, The Measurement of Scientific, Technological and Innovation Activities, OECD
Publishing, Paris, pg 59, https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264239012-en
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