Recommendations for Latvia’s NIS and un proposed Action Plan Valdis Avotiņš, LIDA ESTER 4th Meeting, Tel Aviv, January 12-14

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

Gap Analysis

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 Europe’s / global market and do not act to develop company and increase its competitiveness 3.Latvia’s science has loosed its critical mass by human resources, equipment, infrastructure and financial support 4.Latvia’s 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

Overall goals of the innovation strategy

Action Plan

A. Existing programmes Implemented over 1 year 1.Innovation policy efficiency analysis, monitoring, benchmarking 2.SAP “Market orientated research”, grant scheme, implemented by MoES 3.Grants to provide co-financing for participation in EU programs and networks: IRC, 6th Framework, PAXIS, IRE, RIS+, ESTER, EUREKA etc. 4.“Support to the participation of commercial companies ininternational exibions and trade missions”, grant scheme (former LEMAP – Cost Sharing Grant Scheme)

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)

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

C. Non-existing, important (2/2) 7.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 8.Improvement of NIP (action plan measures) co- ordination 9.Grant scheme to support proposal design for EU programs to NGOs and SMEs 10.Technology Transfer program, WB 3,4 and 7 11.Commercialising IP programme (legal statement regards ownership of intellectual property) WB 5 and 6

22 experts’ evaluation UMPRiska KP JPT ESP Labā prakse IPR TOP Nac. progr. IZM IA Inkubat Piegādāt. CoE

Priorities for new sub-programs 1.Entrepreneurship motivation programme (60-90 ths Ls in 2 years) 2.Grant shcheme “Innovation assistent” ( 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 ( ths Ls / year), Technology transfer programme ( ths Ls / year) 7.NIP coordination and dialogue with partners (20 ths Ls year) Total from NIP budget 2005 / 2006 : ths Ls 135 / 250