LATVIAN TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER LTC EVITA 2008 Networking IASP

LATVIAN TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER (LTC) EVITA 2008

Networking IASP (International Association of Science Parks), EBN (European Business and Innovation Center Network) ADT (Federal Association of German Technology and Business Incubation Centers), SPICE (Science Park and Innovation Centers Experts), NBIA (National Business incubation Association, USA), UKBIA (United Kingdom Business Incubators Association, UK), UKSPA (United Kingdom Science Park Association, UK), PBICA (Polish Business and Innovation Centers Association), BASTIC (Baltic Association of Science/Technology Parks and Innovation Centers), LTICA (Association of Latvian Technological Parks, Centers and Business Incubators. )

Facts about LTC: o The first innovation support structure in Latvia o Established in June 3, 1993 o supported by Ministry of Education and Science o Legal Status – non-profit Ltd, Foundation (2006 - )

LTC Founders: o Founders: - Latvian Academy of Sciences - Municipality of Riga - Institute of Physical Energetics - National Quality. Association

Goals: o to encourage cooperation between institutions of higher education and research and industry o to stimulate a formation and development of high- technology based small and medium sized enterprises o to encourage small and medium enterprises for transnational cooperation to produce competitive high quality products and to create new jobs for qualified specialists and researchers

Activities: • business incubation (till year 2007) • business acceleration (from year 2007) • innovation related projects • international cooperation • science communication • expertize of the state programmes on innovation

Business Incubator / Accelerator o Location – “Campus of Academy of Sciences” o About 25 tenant companies, 210 employees (average per year) o High State’s revenue rate (1: 7) o ~ 2 000 sq. m. space

The Main Technology branches: o instrumentation for medical and biotechnological applications o electronics, electrotechnics and telecommunications, industry automation o IT o environment protection

Specific Consultations: o Partner search using LTC cooperation networks o International Technology Transfer (IRC/EEN) o Support and information on the participation issues on thematic exhibitions, brokerage and matchmaking events, company visits

Consultations on Financial support: o EC RTD programmes o Cooperation with investment companies, banks, funds, etc. o Other international SMEs and innovation support programmes

What’s else? o Participation and coordination of specific innovation promoting international projects o Organization of conferences, workshops, brokerage events, etc. o Participation in the development of State’s innovation policy o FP 5/6/7 National Contact Point for Innovation-SME’s Programmes

PARTICIPATION in EU PROJECTS • RIS LATVIA • RIS LITHUANIA (RIS for NAC) • IRC LATVIA ( IRC Network) – EEN Latvia • F 2 F • RESCUE (ETI) • SMEs. Go. Life. Sciences (ETI) • Innovation Circus (Pro-INNO) • SMEs 2 LEAD • Innov 8 Gate • SINCERE

LTC has demonstrated itself as reliable partner in more than 30 different European programme projects (FP 5&FP 6 projects, INTERREG, Leonardo da Vinci, etc. ) Previous LTC experience in INTERREG projects: VBN Inno. Reg, INTERREG IIIB, 01. 02. 2006 -31. 12. 2007 FINESSE, INTERREG IIIC, 01. 2004 -31. 12. 2006 Hanse Visits/Hanse Passage , INTERREG IIIC, 01. 2004 -31. 12. 2006. INTER-a, INTERACT Programme (01. 11. 2004 -31. 10. 2006) NEW PROJECTS (2009 -2011): EVITA (INTERREG IVC) and BSR Inno. Reg (BSRP)

Why EVITA is important for Latvia? The expected results for Latvia would be: • an improvement of relevant regional policies on SME support for the use of e-business opportunities; • an improvement of e-skills in SMES and the increase in IT use and adoption e-business practices • in the long term - sustained impact on innovation and competitiveness policy and economic growth in Latvia

PLANNED ACTIVITIES 1/2: • Participation in the Study Visits to get experience and information on the project subject and then a transfer of knowledge to Decision Makers in Latvia • Distribution of the “ best policy measures guide” and the Latvian “IT training strategy report” in the Latvian IT community • Organization of 2 focused Workshops for Policy Makers with a goal to influence decision makers to put the objectives of the Information Society higher on their political agenda

PLANNED ACTIVITIES 2/2: • Development of a Latvian “e-business training content” • Development of a Latvian version of the interactive elearning platform • Creation of a taskforce of Latvian e-tutors, ready to deliver hands-on training courses to SMEs’ professionals • Pilot seminar for SMEs to improve computer and ebusiness skills • 2 dissemination events in Riga and in Liepaja.

Contact us: 21 Aizkraukles, LV-1006, Riga, Latvia Phone. : +371 67558771; +371 67557919 (LTC); Fax: +371 67541218 (LTC); E-mail: ltc@latnet. lv; dianak@edi. lv Website: www. innovation. lv/ltc; Managing Director - CEO: Dr. Janis Stabulnieks Project Manager – Diana Krievina