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The State Research Program, Funded by the Ministry of Economy, Poised to Catalyze Innovation and Foster Dialogue Between Scientists and Industry

News/The State Research Program, Funded by the Ministry of Economy, Poised to Catalyze Innovation and Foster Dialogue Between Scientists and Industry

On November 8, 2023, the University of Latvia hosted the "Innovation Fund Program (IF-NPP): Smart Materials, Photonics, and Biomedicine" conference, which convened a diverse array of experts and industry representatives. The conference centred on presentations showcasing the outcomes of scientific research conducted within the MOTE and BioMedPharm projects, funded by the Ministry of Economy. Additionally, there was a discussion on the significance of state funding in advancing science-intensive innovations and research.

Representatives from policymakers, the manufacturing sector, and research institutions participated in the panel discussion, including:

- Raimonds Lapiņš (Ministry of Economy)
- Lauma Muižniece (Latvian Science Council)
- Indriķis Muižnieks (University of Latvia)
- Tālis Juhna (Riga Technical University)
- Vitalijs Skrīvelis (The Association of the Latvian Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, LAKIFA)
- Normunds Bergs (Latvian Electrical Engineering and Electronics Industry Association, LETERA)
- Andris Anspoks (Institute of Solid State Physics of the University of Latvia, LU CFI)
- Osvalds Pugovičs (Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, LIOS)
- Dāvids Štēbelis (European Space Agency)

During the discussions, attention was focused on topical issues such as the objectives of the IF-NPP program, adjusting the program to meet industry needs and scientific institution capabilities, as well as necessary promotion measures for bringing scientific innovations to the market.

Representatives of research institutions voiced their endorsement of the IF-NPP program, acknowledging it as a positive initiative fostering collaboration between research organizations and facilitating practical scientific research that may not be feasible for individual research groups. There was a shared consensus among researchers regarding the importance of promoting and supporting the establishment of long-term research platforms. These platforms enable researchers to effectively address multidisciplinary scientific challenges, thereby enhancing scientific capacity and excellence in specific fields while also fostering regeneration within the research community. It was emphasized that this initiative should be aligned with policymakers' commitment to ensuring research funding and ideally integrated into strategies for developing scientific infrastructure based on these platforms. Given the increasing specialization in modern science, strengthening these centers is imperative, necessitating both specific hardware and the requisite competencies of scientists. Simultaneously, there is a need to establish a sustainable mechanism for open access to the infrastructure to ensure its continued development and utilization.

Andris Anspoks, drawing from the experience of MOTE and LU CFI, advocated for initiating a pilot project aimed at strengthening centers through a combined platform focusing on photonics, smart materials, and biomedicine. Such a pilot project, conducted within a community already prepared for it, would provide valuable insights into its feasibility on a national scale and help prevent potential pitfalls.

When considering the enhancement of various state-supported programs, representatives of research organizations highlighted the rigidity of existing state regulations in the selection and implementation of research projects. Several speakers emphasized the insufficient involvement of the industry in shaping the research directions supported by the IF-NPP. To foster dialogue between the scientific community and the commercial sector, LETERA, along with LAKIFA and LIOS, regularly organize seminars where existing research directions are reviewed and new ones are identified.

Analyzing the experiences of other countries, there is a consensus on the need to enhance the regulatory framework of national research programs. Participants agreed that long-term investments in scientific directions require greater flexibility than the current framework of national research programs provides. A viable solution would involve financing platforms alongside rapid idea evaluation and incremental implementation, allowing for continuous submission of new ideas and the continuation of those yielding planned results. Drawing from LIOS's experience in the European ENABLE project, where the platform approach was successfully implemented and recognized for its efficacy, similar models could be adopted. For instance, the Swedish government now funds such a platform from the national budget.

The Association of the Latvian Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry has clearly articulated the interests of the commercial sector, emphasizing the importance of intensive science involvement in achieving goals related to drug transport form development, drug re-profiling, modern drug production technology development, and biosimilar development.

"Industry often faces challenges with early-phase technologies, making it crucial to support funding for idea testing and prototype development to mitigate final technological risks," noted Dāvids Štēbelis. The technology transfer program of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) received praise as an excellent tool for promoting and supporting prototype development and technology improvement. Stakeholders across the board encouraged the renewal of this program to foster and support commercialization practices in universities.

The conference was organized within the framework of the MOTE and BioMedPharm projects, both supported by IF-NPP, a state order program established by the Ministry of Economy to advance scientific research, promote technology transfer, and develop innovative, commercialized products and technologies aligned with industry demand in two areas of Latvia's approved Smart Specialization Strategy: "Biomedicine, medical technologies, pharmaceuticals" and "Photonics and smart materials, technologies, and engineering systems."