Recommendations for Latvia

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Recommendations for Latvias NIS and un proposed
Action Plan 2005-2010
Valdis Avotinš, LIDA
ESTER 4th Meeting, Tel Aviv, January 12-14
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Content

• Model of Latvia,s NIP Action Plan
• Prioritair sub-programmes / measures
• WP6a report
• WP7a report
• Discussion

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Gap Analysis
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Key conclusions

1. Science research and industry two isolated
   and not interlinked worlds in Latvia
2. Local SMEs lack in competence they do not
   properly estimate their competitive position in
   Europes / global market and do not act to
   develop company and increase its competitiveness
3. Latvias science has loosed its critical mass by
   human resources, equipment, infrastructure and
   financial support
4. Latvias financial system do not take active role
   to support innovative projects and technological
   development
5. Innovation service, technology development
   infrastructure is poorly developed compared to
   both EU developed and new member countries

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Overall goals of the innovation strategy
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Action Plan 2005-2020
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A. Existing programmes

• Implemented over 1 year
• Innovation policy efficiency analysis,
  monitoring, benchmarking
• SAP Market orientated research, grant scheme,
  implemented by MoES
• Grants to provide co-financing for participation
  in EU programs and networks IRC, 6th Framework,
  PAXIS, IRE, RIS, ESTER, EUREKA etc.
• Support to the participation of commercial
  companies ininternational exibions and trade
  missions, grant scheme (former LEMAP Cost
  Sharing Grant Scheme)

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B. Up-coming programmes

1. SAP Support to modernization of the business
   infrastructure incl. 3 subprograms, grant scheme
2. SAP to promote best practices and success stories
   for technology development, grant scheme
3. SAP Risk capital financing for small and medium
   sized enterprises
4. SAP Support to development of new products and
   technologies, grant scheme (prototype
   development)
5. SAP Support to the consultancy services, grant
   scheme
6. SAP Support for the workforce professional skill
   improvement, retraining and further education,
   grant scheme
7. National program to modernise scientific
   infrastructure (mainly research equipment)

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C. Non-existing, important (1/2)

1. Foresight dialogue, strategic future planning
   initiative
2. Global supplier program, WB 10 and 13
3. Centre of Excellence program WB 2
4. Entrepreneurship motivation program, WB 12
5. Grant scheme Innovation Assistant (bridging
   universities and industry)
6. Programme to promote Liaison offices in
   universities

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C. Non-existing, important (2/2)

1. SAP Support to technology incubators, two
   linked grant schemes 1) for private technology
   incubator operators, 2) for pre-seed and seed
   fund (s), WB 8
2. Improvement of NIP (action plan measures)
   co-ordination
3. Grant scheme to support proposal design for EU
   programs to NGOs and SMEs
4. Technology Transfer program, WB 3,4 and 7
5. Commercialising IP programme (legal statement
   regards ownership of intellectual property) WB 5
   and 6

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22 experts evaluation

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Priorities for new sub-programs

1. Entrepreneurship motivation programme (60-90 ths
   Ls in 2 years)
2. Grant shcheme Innovation assistent (5 1208
   ths Ls in 3 years)
3. SAP Support to technology incubators (ESTER
   project)
4. Grant scheme to support design of proposals for
   EU programs (NGOs, SMEs) (65 ths Ls / year)
5. Programme Centres of excellences (5 ths Ls)
6. SAP liaison offices in universities (5 60 ths
   Ls / year), Technology transfer programme (5 60
   ths Ls / year)
7. NIP coordination and dialogue with partners (20
   ths Ls year)

Total from NIP budget 2005 / 2006 ths Ls 135 /
250