Latvia's economic competitiveness will increasingly depend on its ability to create, protect, and transform new knowledge, technologies, designs, and brands into practical economic value. Therefore, intellectual property policy cannot be separated from innovation and entrepreneurship development. This was agreed upon during a meeting between Minister of Justice Edvards Smiltēns and Director of the Latvian Patent Office Agris Batalauskis, who noted that intellectual property is one of the key prerequisites for innovation and economic growth.
"If we want faster economic growth, we must be able to bring together the economy and innovation. Intellectual property is not merely a form of legal protection. It is a tool that helps companies grow, attract investment, and create high value-added products. This is how well-paid jobs are created and Latvia's competitiveness is strengthened," said Minister of Justice Edvards Smiltēns.
During the meeting, ways to strengthen the role of intellectual property within the innovation ecosystem, promote technology transfer, and create a more supportive environment for knowledge-intensive companies and startups were discussed. It was acknowledged that startups and knowledge-intensive enterprises follow different development paths, meaning that innovation policy and public support mechanisms should also be tailored accordingly. It was emphasized that knowledge generated by universities and research institutions should increasingly be transformed into competitive products and services that create economic value in Latvia. This direction is also highlighted in an OECD assessment, which recommends closer integration between intellectual property policy, innovation, commercialization, and data-driven governance.
Agris Batalauskis, Director of the Latvian Patent Office, noted that Latvia's economic development increasingly depends not only on creating new knowledge and technologies, but also on the ability to protect, manage, commercialize and successfully leverage them in the marketplace. "It is important that entrepreneurs, researchers, and startups view intellectual property not as a formality, but as a tool for growth and attracting investment. The better we are at protecting and utilizing the knowledge created in Latvia, the greater the value it generates for the national economy," said Batalauskis.
The Latvian Patent Office is currently continuing work on its Development Strategy for 2027-2030, aimed at providing more targeted support to small and medium-sized enterprises, research institutions, startups, and other participants in the innovation ecosystem, while continuing to improve and modernize its services.