Developing the university of tartu to a well-networked patient safety research center in estonia
Patient safety is a serious global public health problem affecting all countries. Estimates show that 1/10 patients are harmed during hospital care resulting in 23 million disability-adjusted life years lost per year. Research advancement is emphasized by all expert groups as a key precondition for safer care . The PATSAFE project will enhance Institute of Clinical Medicine of the University of Tartu (ICM-UT) research potential and capacities in patient safety in order to improve and strengthen knowledge and skills in methods, techniques and experience for patient safety research. Strategic partnership with Avedis Donabedian Foundation (FAD) from Spain and IQ Healthcare (IQ-HC) from The Netherlands, both international leaders in patient safety research, enables developing a long-lasting knowledge exchange alliance allowing ICM-UT to capitalise on its current achievements and to overcome gaps in scientific excellence in the field of patient safety research.
To deliver maximum impact on the scientific excellence of ICM-UT and to contribute to the long-term sustainability of its research activities, the twining activities will:
•	Strengthen and raise the research profile of the ICM-UT academic staff and early stage researchers (ESRs), by implementing the hands-on training on the methods, techniques and experience in patient safety research;
•	Encourage the active participation of ESRs in patient safety research by increase their soft skills, to ensure the continuity and sustainability of patient safety research in ICM-UT;
•	Develop the research strategy on patient safety and establish the Estonian Patient Safety Research Network for the long-term sustainability of patient safety research in Estonia.
To implement these activities, PATSAFE foresees a comprehensive strategy consisting of knowledge exchange (training materials, seminars, staff visits), soft research skills capacity building, strategic planning and strong dissemination and exploitation efforts.