On Wednesday, 12 November, a formal signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Defence to conclude cooperation agreements with four scientific universities – the University of Latvia, the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Riga Technical University, and Riga Stradiņš University. The signing of these agreements marks an essential step towards closer collaboration between the national defence sector and Latvia’s academic community, reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing science, research, and innovation in support of national security.
Between January and May of this year, Minister of Defence Andris Sprūds met with representatives of university leadership to review the results of previous cooperation and outline key directions for future partnership. The agreements define a general framework for collaboration and clearly set out priority areas: the development of research for national defence needs, innovation and technology transfer, and university involvement in NATO and European Union research and innovation programmes.
The signed agreements do not entail direct financial obligations but provide a precise mechanism for further collaboration to support research relevant to the defence sector, enhance the applicability of scientific research, and adapt it to the development needs of the National Armed Forces. This initiative also contributes to the implementation of the Defence Industry and Innovation Support Strategy 2025–2036. The partnership establishes a solid foundation for a sustainable and practically oriented model of cooperation between the defence industry and the scientific community.
"A strong national defence means not only the development of military capabilities but also close cooperation with the science and research sector. Latvian universities are key partners in creating knowledge, technologies, and innovations that strengthen our national security. With this, we reinforce mutual trust and long-term cooperation to build a modern, science-based defence sector jointly," said Minister Andris Sprūds.
The Ministry of Defence values its existing cooperation with universities and looks forward to successfully implementing future initiatives, jointly contributing to national defence and the development of Latvia’s defence industry and research.
