Stanford-Baltics Exchange Program
Vabamu serves as an anchor for all visits to Estonia and the Nordic-Baltic region by members of the Stanford community. We create programs for Stanford students holding internships in the Baltics, coordinate fellowship programs that allow Estonian scientists to do research at Stanford as well as support visits by Stanford faculty, staff and alumni to the Baltics.
In 2022, Stanford University Libraries, together with The Europe Center, The Freeman-Spogli Institute for International Studies, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, and Vabamu, launched two fellowship programs that bring Estonian scholars to Stanford.
The annual 2-6-month fellowships enable Estonian researchers to visit Stanford University and make use of its academic knowledge, networks, and collections related to the study of Estonian history, foreign policy, security, digital society, economy, cyber security, smart governance, technology and trust. The fellowships aim at enhancing Estonian scholars’ ability to share their knowledge of and experience in issues related to these subjects with the research community at one of the top universities in the world and other relevant entities in Silicon Valley, thus contributing to a better understanding of these topics on a global level.
Information on 2025 fellowships canbe found here: https://vabamu.ee/en/news/2025fellowships/
The fellowship at the Stanford University offered an excellent opportunity to visit one of the top universities in the United States, but also around the world, and to use their excellent research facilities. The general outcome of the visit is definitely positive and advanced my research in many directions.
My stay at Stanford was incredibly energizing and fruitful. It was a pleasure to meet scholars whose work has inspired me for years. I’m grateful to everyone who supported my research and stay.
For me, the Stanford fellowship has been a perfect start for initiating new joint articles, research, and project applications. This research mission to Stanford has been among the best organized and fruitful research trips I have had; therefore, I highly suggest the fellowship to other applicants.
My seven-week stay at Stanford was extremely stimulating and rewarding, and it was great to meet scholars whose work has had a strong impact on me.
News and opportunities
Kairi Talves, Estonian Military Academy (2024)
Global Digital Governance Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Scholars, February–May 2024
Technosociological perspectives in the resilience and security of small countries
Liina Kamm, Cybernetica AS, Information Security Research Institute (2024)
Global Digital Governance Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Scholars, April–June 2024
Accelerating the practical uptake of privacy enhancing technologies in e-government
Rein Raud, Tallinn University (2024)
Short-Term Research Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Security and Foreign Policy Experts, March–April 2024
The Post-Soviet political subject: a socio-cultural inquiry
Juhan Saharov, University of Tartu (2024)
Short-Term Research Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Scholars, March-April 2024
From Economic to Political Innovation: The Language of Estonian Perestroika and Breakup of the Soviet Union
Ingrid Pappel, Tallinn University of Technology (2023)
Global Digital Governance Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Scholars, September–November 2023
“Accelerating digital service transformation of governments using AI technologies”
Marek Tamm, Tallinn University (2023)
Short-Term Research Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Scholars, September–November 2023
“Historical culture of the Baltic exile community in the West (1940s–1980s)”
Ralf-Martin Soe, Tallinn University of Technology (2023)
Global Digital Governance Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Scholars, February–April 2023
“Mapping and bridging smart city research and innovation initiatives between Stanford and FinEst Centre for Smart Cities of TalTech”
Holger Mölder, Tallinn University of Technology (2023)
Short-Term Research Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Security and Foreign Policy Experts, February–May 2023
“Strategic Imagination in Psychological Warfare: New Techniques to Analyze the Impact of Strategic Narratives Produced by Russia, China, and the United States”
Jaan Raik, Tallinn University of Technology (2022)
Global Digital Governance Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Scholars, July–September 2022
“Verification and Monitoring for Information Leakage Based Hardware Security Vulnerabilities in Emerging Technologies”
Anu Masso, Tallinn University of Technology (2022)
Global Digital Governance Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Scholars, May–June 2022
“The Nature of Automated Diversity: Social Transformations of Data Migration”
Anna-Maria Osula, Tallinn University of Technology (2022)
Global Digital Governance Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Scholars, April–May 2022
„Multistakeholder diplomacy: the role of the private sector in advancing cyber norms“
Piret Ehin, University of Tartu (2022)
Short-Term Research Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Scholars, May-June 2022
“Varieties of global populism: the rise of the populist far-right in Estonia”
Lauri Mälksoo, University of Tartu (2022)
Short-Term Research Fellowship at Stanford University for Estonian Scholars, January–February 2022
“Illegal Annexation and State Continuity: The Case of the Annexation of the Baltic States by the USSR”