Today, December 17, the government approved amendments to extend the timeframe for Latvian researchers to participate in the Baltic Sea Region, Ukraine, and U.S. collaborative initiative in the field of research. These changes aim to ensure more effective implementation of this international multilateral project and long-term benefits for the development of Latvian science and international cooperation. The amendments provide long-term funding for a two-year period, extending project activities until the end of 2025.
“These amendments affirm Latvia's willingness and ability to be an equal partner in the international research environment. Extending the funding until the end of 2025 will enable our researchers to conduct comprehensive studies and participate in international conferences, increasing the visibility and impact of Latvian science,” commented Lana Frančeska Dreimane, Director of the Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Department of the Ministry of Education and Science.
The initiative involves partners from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Ukraine, and the U.S., with each country financing the participation of its own scientific institutions. Until now, funding for Latvian researchers was only available for 2024, which limited the implementation of planned activities.
Currently, three projects are being developed in Latvia by scientific institutions:
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University of Latvia (UL) Institute of Atomic Physics and Spectroscopy in the field of biomedicine: “Custom Molecular Transport in Low-Dimensional Hybrid Materials from 1D Nanocrystals and 2D Nanosheets”
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UL Faculty of Science and Technology in the field of hydrogeology: “Groundwater Resilience Assessment Using Integrated Data Analysis for Ukraine (GRANDE-U)”
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Riga Technical University in the field of materials science: “A Unique Approach to a New Semiconductor (Si)GeSn for Infrared Detection”
The Latvian Council of Science will continue to coordinate ongoing projects in close collaboration with the U.S. National Science Foundation. According to the amendments, Latvian research institutions will have access to funding of up to 100,000 EUR per project for a two-year period, similar to other participating countries. This approach will ensure equal opportunities for Latvian researchers to actively participate in international projects and expand their collaboration networks.
Thanks to this initiative, Latvian researchers will have the opportunity to develop long-term partnerships with international partners, resulting in increased capacity and global competitiveness of Latvian research institutions. The initiative will also foster the development of interdisciplinary studies addressing both regional and global challenges.
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