On November 13, 2025, the members of the Innovation and Research Governance Council (IRMC) met to hear the Ministry of Economics’ (ME) informative report on the RIS3 monitoring process, the development of sectoral strategy guidelines, and progress to date. The Ministry of Education and Science representatives, in turn, presented the role of Fundamental and Applied Research (FLPP), highlighting the outcomes of the support programme, its priorities, potential support measures, and the challenges ahead.
Council members approved the overall framework for the five RIS3 domain guidelines. This step is crucial for ensuring data-driven evaluation of results and for continuing the joint effort to develop and fully implement commercialisation rules in the future. The IRGC also decided to support the continuation of planned activities, aiming to achieve final results within the established timeframe and to ensure public engagement in the project evaluation process.
The Council was presented with the RIS3 monitoring results up to 2025. As success stories, the projects led by the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry and the University of Latvia were highlighted. The implementation of RIS3 plays a key role in strengthening Latvia’s economic competitiveness by fostering closer links among science, business, and the public sector, as several participants emphasised during the meeting. They noted that effective innovation management and knowledge transfer promote the development of new products and technologies, enhance productivity, and provide a foundation for sustainable growth. At the same time, the RIS3 approach serves as a tool for aligning national development priorities with the European Union’s innovation policy directions.
During the meeting, Minister for Education and Science Dace Melbārde emphasised the need for a broader discussion of space governance in Latvia, as the sector is rapidly growing and influences a wide range of fields. The Ministry of Education and Science and ME ministers agreed to cooperate on enhancing and effectively implementing Latvia’s space governance model in the near future.
The Innovation and Research Governance Council is a collegial and consultative body established to improve institutional governance of research, development, and innovation, and to oversee the implementation of RIS3 in Latvia. This includes supervising the work of the RIS3 Management Group, coordinated by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA). The IRGC consists of the Minister for Economics, the Minister for Education and Science, and the Directors of LIAA and the Latvian Council of Science.
