On 14 and 15 June, in Sibenik, Croatia, the Executive Committee of the European Network of Innovation Agencies Taftie met and approved the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) membership in this organisation.
"One of LIAA's tasks is to work on innovation development in Latvia by attracting international partners. The European Network of Innovation Agencies Taftie can provide an environment for the exchange of experience of innovation agencies with many European agencies. Participation in the Taftie network will expand the opportunities for Latvian entrepreneurs to attract additional resources and to participate in international cooperation projects in the field of research and development," emphasises Kaspars Rožkalns, Director of LIAA.
With the support of the Taftie network, Latvian entrepreneurs and research organisations will be able to form new partnerships and attract innovation grants from the EU and other sources. One such funding source is the EU's Regional Innovation Valleys programme, where projects proposed by at least five EU Member States will be eligible for research and development support.
Taftie is the European Network of Innovation Agencies, essential in sharing good practices and information between member organisations. Currently, 34 organisations from 28 European countries are part of the Taftie network. The organisations in the Taftie network have over 8000 employees and a combined innovation budget of more than EUR 10 billion. Another resource is the Taftie network's close cooperation with innovation agencies in Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Canada and Brazil.
Taftie aims to strengthen international cooperation by providing a platform for training, knowledge sharing, expertise exchange and experience sharing among its members. The organisation serves as a single point of contact to attract new potential partners in different sectors.
The organisation supports its members in developing innovation ecosystems by promoting the effectiveness and efficiency of support to turn innovative ideas generated in Europe into actual, competitive products and services. Overall, Taftie's work is based on creating a more favourable environment for research and innovation. Latvia's participation in the organisation will allow entrepreneurs to share their experiences and hear from innovative thinkers – entrepreneurs, researchers, and sector experts from different European countries.
LIAA already provides significant support for innovation through programmes such as Support for Digitisation of Processes in Business, Innovation Motivation Programme, Business Incubators, Start-up Support Programmes, Support for Attracting Highly Qualified Employees, Support for Commercialisation of Research Results and others.