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The Ministry of Economics has announced an open competition for platform applications under the national research program “Innovation Fund – Long-Term Research Program.” Changes have been made to the competition regulations!
The regulations now include clarified program funding, expected outcomes, conditions for evaluating the status of research and knowledge dissemination organizations, and rules for calculating indirect eligible costs.
The Latvian Council of Science, based on the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 560 of September 4, 2018, "Procedures for Implementing National Research Program Projects," Section 17, has reopened the open competition for platform applications under the long-term state research program "Innovation Fund – Long-Term Research Program."
The long-term national research program “Innovation Fund – Long-Term Research Program” (hereinafter referred to as the Program) was approved in accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers' Order No. 474 of June 18, 2024, “On the Long-Term National Research Program ‘Innovation Fund – Long-Term Research Program,’” designating the Ministry of Economics as the responsible authority for the implementation of the program.
The total available funding for platforms within the competition is €17,100,000.
The competition aims to finance one platform, with a provisional project funding of €17,100,000 as stipulated in Section 6 of the Cabinet Order.
The platform implementation period is 24 months, starting from the date of the contract's entry into force.
According to the Cabinet Order:
The overall objective of the long-term program is to develop new knowledge, products, and technological solutions over the long term in Latvia's Smart Specialization Strategy areas of "Biomedicine, Medical Technologies, and Pharmacy" and "Photonics and Smart Materials, Technologies, and Engineering Systems."
The specific goal of the long-term program is to advance academic research and applied science competencies for the development of innovative and marketable products and technologies, in close collaboration with Latvia's industries in biomedicine, medical technologies, pharmacy, photonics, smart materials, electronics, electrical engineering, technology, and engineering systems.
To achieve the program’s goal, the following tasks have been defined:
- In the Smart Specialization Strategy area "Biomedicine, Medical Technologies, and Pharmacy": Improving access to therapies to increase life expectancy and workability by developing drug production technologies, drug delivery systems, and vaccines, conducting drug repurposing and new drug discovery and development research, identifying new biomarkers, and developing precision medicine solutions.
- In the Smart Specialization Strategy area "Photonics and Smart Materials, Technologies, and Engineering Systems": Developing optics, photonics, microelectronics, microfluidics devices, smart materials, data transmission and communication technologies, sensors and engineering systems, robotics, and the Internet of Things solutions of the future.
Additionally, the following horizontal tasks have been outlined for the long-term program:
- Building and developing interdisciplinary and inclusive internationally competitive research teams that utilize globally recognized research methods and technologies.
- Strengthening collaboration between research groups and industry professionals in the relevant economic sectors.
- Engaging in international cooperation networks and consortia.
- Developing innovative solutions and promoting their broader use.
- Informing the public and engaging target groups to promote knowledge transfer and raise awareness of the role and contribution of research in addressing important societal issues.
Who can participate? Research institutions registered in the Register of Scientific Institutions of the Republic of Latvia and meeting the definition of a research organization. Additionally, a public institution with a statutory obligation to conduct scientific activities may participate as a collaboration partner.
Project applications must be submitted in the National Scientific Activity Information System (NZDIS) by October 21, 2024, at 17:00.