1. Results of the Norwegian Financial Instrument Research programme (2009 - 2014) in Latvia
September 22, 2017

2. Research Activity in Latvia
Total funds - 4,4 mil EUR (NO grants 90%, LV state budget financing 10%).
11 research bilateral projects implemented (out of 73 submitted)
19 HE institutions involved
University of Oslo in 7 projects
University of Tromso
Norwegian School for Sport Science
Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research
Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Envirinmental Research
Nordic Institute for studies in Innovation, Research and Education

3. Research fields and themes
Social sciences and humanities
Literature
Feminism and gender sociality
Archeology
Transfer of technology in ancient times - the processing of mineral resources
Philology
Children’s language study
Physical training, pediatric
Health related participation in education process for children with disability
Political science, sociology
Rural depopulation and education in rural areas
Comparative study on higher education and research system in Norway and Latvia
Norway grants are one of very few international funding sources, which supports Social sciences and Humanities. Research in this field is crucial for Latvia. Project “Technology transfer in the processing of mineral recourses in earlier times” is an excellent example to show implementation of both above mentioned outcomes.

4. Research fields and topics
Health, including pharmacy, biomedicine
Environmental chemistry
Pharmaceutical products residue
Structural chemistry, pharmacological sciences
Alzheimer’s disease
Nutrition
Cereals research for human health
Oncology
Cancer therapy

5. Measure: Strengthened research capacity in the Beneficiary States
Peer reviewed publications
8 Projects completed (Final payment made (out of 11)
All project Final report evaluations completed by external experts
LV Latvian language in monolingual and bilingual acquisition: tools, theories and applications

6. Measure: Increased research cooperation between Norway and the Beneficiary States
1.2. Joint publications LV and NOR
Preparation takes more time than expected
In average 6 joint publications per project
22 joint publications submitted during the last month of the project implementation phase
Veiksmīgākie:
LV Latvian language in monolingual and bilingual acquisition: tools, theories and applications – 6
LV Innovative approach to hull-less spring cereals and triticale use from human health perspective - 4

7. Measure: Increased research cooperation between Norway and the Beneficiary States
Better performing areas:
Social sciences
Medicine
1.3. Scientific publications

8. Measure: strengthened research capacity in the beneficiary States
Set in agreements – 38
Total involved – 58
77 % women
33 out of 58 are involved in synergy projects
19 PhD involved in medicine projects (LV ; LV )
PhD Student involvement
LV = 023 projekts -> OSI Alcheimera projekts
LV = 045 projekts -> LBMC prostatas vēža projekts

9. Best practise example Project NFI/R/2014/011 «Innovative approach to hull-less spring cereals and triticale use from human health perspective”
The aim of the project was to research non-traditional grain varieties in order to demonstrate their potential in producing new and healthy niche foods.
As a result biologically activated flakes production technology has been developed
Received a special award – diploma from the President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences nominated as one of the most significant achievements in the Latvian science in 2016
Work on commercialization of developed technology in collaboration with entrepreneurs to bring biologically activated flakes into production/ on market

10. Synergy with the Scholarship activity
Success story
Synergy with the Scholarship activity
More students and academic staff involved in practical research work
New skills, additional knowledge
Certificates for the lab work
Strengthened link between the research and teaching
Access to library
Master/ Doctoral Thesis -> base for publications
New ideas how to improve research work
New collaborations started
Latvian researchers and PhD students had a chance to work with modern technical equipment in laboratories of Norway Universities, which resulted in new collaboration in community modelling of Bifidobacterium species. In addition, students have obtained certificates for work with laboratory animals, which will help in career building;
Latvian students and academic staff had opportunity to try new methods and technics during their mobility, which were transferred and included in curriculum right away, e.g., knowledge of colour chemistry is widely used in daily teaching process in Latvian Arts Academy

11. Conversation festival «Lampa», July 2017
Publicity
Conversation festival «Lampa», July 2017
The LAMPA conversation festival invites people to engage in conversations that lead to understanding. To diversity and its acceptance. To equality – where every opinion has the right to exist and be heard. To a desire to find out more and to take pleasure in doing so.
The LAMPA conversation festival celebrates democratic culture and provides an open, engaging and joyful environment for vigorous and enthralling conversations for everyone who cares about Latvia and the world.
The LAMPA idea was hatched and nurtured by the Foundation for an Open Society DOTS, Swedbank and the sustainable change agency SPARK from Denmark. It was inspired by similar democracy festivals in Denmark, Sweden and Estonia . The LAMPA conversation festival home is the Cēsis castle park. Many organizations and activists are involved in its creation, cooking up festival events and offering financial support.
Trust, sustainability and diversity – these three principles are at the heart of the LAMPA conversation festival. These are the three pillars on which we seek to build Latvia’s future.
Entrance to the festival is free of charge.
State chancellery participated last year. Informed society about work in government and citizens could try ti fit in different shoes and positions.
Ministry of Justice will present results achieved in 2 projects, regarding execution of criminal penalties and created centre for convicts that are addicted to drugs
Information about the festival:
Video about the festival:
Photo gallery:

12. Publicity
All projects description and results available on the SEDA webpage «EEA Norway grants» - «Interactive project map»:

13. Tuesday, 17 October 2017 LV 05 Final conference Focus on communication
Presentations of project final CONCLUSIONS
Study visits to project promoters institutions
Discussions about future cooperation
Tuesday, 17 October 2017
Venue:
RIGA
RISEBA
Architecture and Media Centre H2O 6
Focus on communication
of the research and its results
If you want to participate, please contact:

14. Thank you for your attention!
Irina Stolarova
State Education Development Agency
Department of Management and External cooperation
Senior Project Manager