Representatives of European Commission,
Principal Investigators, ladies and gentlemen,
I am pleased to welcome you today to this conference on “Horizon Europe”, the next research and innovation framework programme, implementation in Latvia! I am proud of Latvian researchers’ successes in current framework program “Horizon 2020” and I am looking forward to even greater contribution to “Horizon Europe”.
Our research and innovation system has had several major improvements in recent years. There has been developed competitive funding instruments, increased involvement of early career researchers, made improvements in technology transfer, collaboration and productivity. We are very grateful for European Commission`s investments in our research infrastructure. Now we are ready to use this infrastructure to give the Latvian contribution to our common European goals.
Today at the conference we are going to look at Latvian Research and innovation ecosystem, our success stories and what to expect from “Horizon Europe”. I urge you to use this time for planning our next activities. We are in process of scaling up internally and providing more European excellence externally. It goes about providing solutions to challenges Europeans care about. We feel deeply committed with all three pillars of the next framework program. Excellent science talks about being the best in world, break-through fundamental research – just the approach we are establishing in our specialization fields. Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness is about giving back to the world – Latvian striving to provide for better, greener and more prosperous future for all of us, Latvians and Europeans.
I am pleased to welcome all Latvian researchers and participants of this program, because it is very important for Latvia and for development of our infrastructure. I can see that in last 3–4 years this infrastructure has been improved considerably.
We, Latvians, truly believe in the importance of science evolving in cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral and cross-actor innovation for solving Europe’s current and future challenges. I personally see science as one of Latvian priorities, because as a small country we don’t have many other resources as our people, our science and our researchers. Our nation has to be prepared for digital transformation and give active contribution to general EU goals.
I wish that “Horizon Europe” will continue many already established collaborations and after this conference there will be countless other important projects. Only together we can make sure our goals are met and a better future is ahead of us.
Thank you!
