New ideas - Latvia

Updated 11/2010

Legal requirements

To promote cooperation between scientists and business, the Cabinet of Ministers has issued a regulations on the promotion of technology transfer. They provide for support for the operation of technology transfer contact points in higher education establishments.

Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers

Alongside innovation, access to R&D is essential for businesses to develop and stay competitive.

Research — Latvia

Intellectual property must be protected to encourage innovation.

Intellectual property — Latvia

Resources

Information on innovations in Latvia as well as other useful links related to innovations can be found:

The Ministry of Economics
The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
Latvia's Innovation Portal

Programmes

The Programme for the Promotion of Business Competitiveness and Innovation 2007-2013 aims to promote innovative capacity and the transfer of know-how and technology in production.

Programme for the Promotion of Business Competitiveness and Innovation

The aim of the Business Incubator Programme is to promote the creation and development of new, sustainable and competitive businesses in the regions of Latvia and to provide them with the environment and advice necessary for carrying on business.

The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia
The Business Incubator Programme

Within the framework of the New Product and Technology Development Programme businesses can get support for industrial research, experimental product development and securing industrial property rights, as well as for the introduction of new products in manufacturing.

The aim of the programme entitled Measures for Increasing Motivation for Innovation and for Starting a Business is to inform and encourage as wide a sector of society as possible to start a business, raise the image of business in the eyes of society and to promote society’s understanding of the the role of innovation in promoting competitiveness and inform society of processes related to innovation and its potential, thereby encouraging as large a sector of society and business as possible to focus on the development and application of innovative solutions.

The aim of the programme entitled Contact Points of Technology Transfer is to promote the commercial application of research results, collect information on existing research capability in higher-education establishments and institutes, and systematically develop the necessary research capability therein.

Under the EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) SMEs may participate in various thematic studies and draw on special assistance for participating in training events.

Latvian national contact point

Under the EUREKA programme, businesses may submit projects to the Ministry of Education and Science to apply for assistance aimed at promoting commercial activity and international cooperation among scientific institutions.