1. Swiss – Latvian Cooperation Programme Progress from 01.04.2013. to 31.03.2014.

2. Progress report: Scholarship Fund - 3 Scholarship Fund – Sciex fellows’ event - 5 Approved applications 4th call: Scholarship Fund - 6 Approved applications 5th call: Scholarship Fund - 7 Financial progress: Scholarship Fund - 8 Research fields: Scholarship Fund - 9 Progress report: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia - 10 Financial progress: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia - 11 Research fields: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia - 12 Main applicants: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia - 13 Success story: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia - 14 Problems: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia - 15 Solutions: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia - 16 Contents 2

3. – 3 completed projects until 31.12.2013. – 2* running projects from 2 nd open call 1 Doc.Cand. for 12 months 1 Dr. for 12 months – 5* running projects from 3 rd open call 2 Doc.Cand. for 12 months 1 Doc.Cand. for 18 months 2 Dr. for 12 months * - figures on 31.01.2014. Progress report: Scholarship Fund 3

4. – Launch of 5 th open call (01.09.2013. – 01.11.2013.) 15 applications submitted 4 applications approved (25.03.2013.) other applications rejected due to received ranking “B” or “C” – Launch of 6 th (last) open call (01.01.2014. – 01.04.2014.) 23 applications submitted (- 1 withdrawn) Are being evaluated ―Four consultation days in 2013-2014 ―SEDA participation in Sciex fellows’ event and training seminar organized by the CRUS on 15 and 16 October 2013 in Switzerland Progress report: Scholarship Fund 4

5. – 23 Sciex Fellows presented their project 2 from Latvia (3rd call) – Zane Metla – environmental sciences «New approaches for the biological control of forest insect pests» ―Alīna Neščerecka – environmental sciences and engineering «Assessment of biological stability in drinking water distribution networks with chlorine residuals» http://www.crus.ch/information-programme/sciex-nms-ch/rn/sciex-fellows-event-2013/poster- session.html Scholarship Fund - Sciex fellows’ event 5

6. 5th open call Approved applications 4th call: Scholarship Fund FellowProject TitleResearch fieldHome institution Host Institution D.Šulmane, Dr.Evaluation of Legal Norms - Challenges for Legislator Legal sciencesUniversity of Latvia University of Geneve I.Birka, Dr.cand. Dual Citizenship – Endangering or Strengthening the National Community? Legal sciencesUniversity of Latvia University of Lucerne K.Siliņa, Dr.B Effector cell Subsets in Tumour Stroma – Role in Anti-Tumour Cellular Immune Response MedicineLatvian Biomedical research and study centre University of Zurich 6

7. Approved applications 5th call: Scholarship Fund FellowProject TitleResearch fieldHome institution Host Institution V.Sajadova, Dr.Consumer Insolvency Proceedings in the European Countries Legal sciences University of LatviaUniversity of Geneve V.Zablockis, Dr.Magneto-Osmosis in Porous Structures PhysicsInstitute of Physics, University of Latvia ETH Zurich J.Kaminskis, Dr.Research on Earth Gravity by zenith cameras Engineering sciencesUniversity of LatviaETH Zurich D.Bocharov, Dr.Study of Chromia-doped Uranium Dioxide PhysicsInstitute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia Paul Scherrer Institute 7

8. Financial progress: Scholarship Fund Call No. Available sum per call Utilized grant after call Utilized grant vs. available per call Call duration Received/ Approved/ Completed projects 1. 886 233337 16738% 01.09.-01.11.2010.5 / 3 / 3 2.01.09.-01.11.2011.5 / 2 / 2 3.990 187455 25046%01.09.-01.11.2012.13 / 6 / 0 4. 495 786 252 70051%01.01.-01.04.2013.5 / 3 / 0 5.710 035377 20053%01.09.-01.11.2013.15 / 4 / 0 6.316 014 01.01.-01.04.2014.23- received (- 1 withdrawn) Total:1 839 329*1 422 31777% 43 / 18 / 5 8

9. 18 approved in total: -Engineering sciences – 6 projects (this period – 1) -Legal and social sciences – 3 projects (this period – 3) -Environmental sciences – 3 projects -Physics – 3 projects (this period – 2) -Medicine – 2 projects (this period – 1) -Biology – 1 project Research fields: Scholarship Fund 9

10. Progress report: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia – Launch of 3rd (01.03.2013.-05.05.2013.) and 4th open call (01.09.2013.) – The amendments to Rules of the Cabinet of Ministers Nr. 62 – from 01.09.2013. there is one call, which is open until all the subproject money (for the whole period) is used – Funding contracted (for projects) until 31.03.2014. is 95 873 CHF (18,1% of the total fellowships’ funding) – Seminars for applicants (15.04.2013. with 6 participants, 18.09.2013. with 3 participants, 20.09.2013. with 3 participants, 20.02.2014. with 5 participants) – video material about the program (distributed among Swiss universities and scientific institutions electronically through regional offices, available on SEDA web page, Youtube) http://www.viaa.gov.lv/lat/starpvalstu_sadarbiiba/sveices_sadarbibas_programma/sveices_petnieki_latvija/ 10

11. Financial progress: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia Call No. Available sum per call Utilized grant after call Utilized grant vs. available per call Call duration Received/ Approved/ Completed 1.88 23520 13023%01.03.-30.04.2012.9 / 9 / 9 2.101 85614 10514%01.09.-01.11.2012.8 / 7 / 7 3.106 70147 15044%01.03.-01.05.2013.27 / 25 / 20 4.448 02614 3983% 01.09.2013.- until the total grant amount is contracted 14 / 8 / 0 Total:529 41195 78318% 58 / 49 / 36 11

12. Finances (micro and macro economy, business pshychology, business management, accountancy) - 23 lectures (this period – 19) Musical education – 12 lectures (this period – 7) Veterinary medicine - 7 lectures (this period – 5) Pedagogy - 7 lectures (this period – 4) Environmental sciences - 1 lectures (this period – 1) Mathematics - 2 lectures (this period – 1) Research fields: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia 12

13. In Riga – School of Business and Finance – Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music – University of Latvia – Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration In regions – Latvia University of Agriculture – Daugavpils University – Liepaja University Main applicants: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia 13

14. Project implemented by University of Latvia and Latvia University of Agriculture (as partners) Swiss researcher – Detlev Remy from Les Roches International School of Hotel Management Visited LV within this program repeatedly Plans to come to LV for lectures again http://www.viaa.gov.lv/lat/starpvalstu_sadarbiiba/sveices_sadarbibas_programma/sveice_pieredzes/pieredze_ sveices_petnieki/?text_id=21228 Success story: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia 14

15. Difficulties in finding partners/contacts in Switzerland Rank of Swiss researcher too high (professor, associate professor, docent or senior researcher) Min project period 5 days too long Amount of scholarship to Swiss researcher insufficient (daily allowance, accommodation, travel costs) Payment conditions to final beneficiaries unsatisfactory - advance payment 20 %, final payment – 80% Low interest, both, from Latvian and Swiss side Problems: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia 15

16. Information to Swiss HEI and Scientific institutions about scientific environment and HEI in LV (video, informational support from VIAA) Reallocation of the funding to the Scholarship Fund, including extension of the implementation period Annex 1, Point 2 of the Block Grant Agreement: «2. Insufficient quantity and quality of applications. If there is no sufficient demand, the remaining funds shall be re- allocated to the scholarship fund.» Solutions: Swiss Researchers Activities in Latvia 16