The Estonian Science Foundation (EstSF) is a research funding organization for basic and applied research, supporting all fields of science.
The EstSF, established in July 1990 by the Estonian Government, is an expert research-funding organization. Its main goal is to support the most promising research initiatives in all fields of basic and applied research. The EstSF uses state budget appropriations to award peer-reviewed research grants to individuals and research groups on a competitive basis. The highest decision-making body is a fifteen-member EstSF Council. Seven of the Council members are the representatives of research organizations and eight members are chairmen of expert commissions. The eight commissions include all together more than 80 researchers. The Estonian Minister of Education and Research nominates the EstSF Council.

The EstSF´s everyday activities are managed by a 2-member Board, which organizes the work of the EstSF office and is responsible for implementing the Council decisions.

Once a year research project proposals are submitted to the EstSF by Estonian or foreign researchers working permanently in Estonia. Several hundred top-level Estonian and foreign experts are engaged in the evaluation of the project proposals each year. The final decisions for financing are based on careful assessment of the applicants´ former scientific accomplishment as well as their current research plan.

In 2004, EstSF finances 737 research projects with the total budget of 88 milj. EEK (5.6 M€). This represents about 20% of the total Estonian public research funding.

EstSF has bilateral agreements for cooperation with the Academy of Finland, Lithuanian Foundation for Science and Studies and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research. EstSF is also a member of the European Science Foundation. Presently, EstSF is involved as a partner in the 6FP ERA-NET BONUS project (Bonus for Baltic Sea Science – Network of Funding Agencies) which started 15.12.2003. EstSF is administrating the French – Estonian Research Cooperation Programme “PARROT”. EstSF participates also in the Biodiversity EUROCORES scheme of ESF.