On Friday, 27 February, within the framework of Vidzeme Innovation Week in Cēsis, the first regional networking event of the Latvian Patent Office (LPO), “Burger with a Scientist”, was held. The aim of the event was to strengthen dialogue between scientists, entrepreneurs, and representatives of the intellectual property (IP) and innovation ecosystem, while also providing practical information on the available support tools.
Opening the event, the LPO Director, Agris Batalauskis, emphasised the importance of continuous development and cooperation in the innovation environment. He pointed out that science and entrepreneurship always meet at the moment when new ideas and solutions emerge, and that is why it is essential to communicate about support tools and opportunities more broadly in the regions.
“Latvia has everything needed to create a strong environment for the development of innovation – we only need to bring together knowledge, experience and resources. Therefore, one of our goals is to make the complex understandable by clearly demonstrating how the IP system is interconnected with the innovation system and how it can deliver practical benefits for both scientists and entrepreneurs,” said Agris Batalauskis.
He also conveyed the commitment of both the LPO and the institutions involved in the initiative to clarify complex matters and demonstrate the importance of IP for the innovation ecosystem.
During the event, participants learned about a wide range of support instruments and opportunities offered by various Latvian innovation and research institutions. The LPO Director presented the institution’s areas of activity and the types of support available for IP registration, as well as the advantages it provides for the successful commercialisation of solutions.
Agnese Kore, a representative of the Latvian Technology Centre, introduced participants to the Centre’s support opportunities and the services offered by the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), which helps entrepreneurs and researchers find partners and develop innovative solutions both in Latvia and internationally.
Inese Gribanova, representing the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), provided information on LIAA programmes, particularly highlighting support for knowledge‑intensive entrepreneurs and the instruments that can be crucial in the development and commercialisation of new technologies.
Experts from the Latvian Council of Science provided a comprehensive overview of three key programmes: Laura Kunga‑Jēgere presented the opportunities offered by the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs (Eurostars) and the Eureka cluster programmes; Marija Plotniece introduced current opportunities under the Horizon Europe programme; and Baiba Kajaka‑Kargane explained the support opportunities for the implementation of postdoctoral research projects.
The informal part of the event, held over burgers, when participants could get to know one another, exchange contacts, and discuss potential avenues for cooperation, proved especially valuable.
The event was organised with the support of the European Patent Office and the Cēsis Municipality, in cooperation with the Latvian Council of Science, LIAA, and the Latvian Technology Centre.
This was only the first step towards organising similar events in other regions of Latvia. The LPO aims to continue creating an environment where professional discussions, new insights and mutual cooperation can provide a basis for a stronger and more unified innovation ecosystem in Latvia.