key point
LATVIAN SCIENCE IN NUMBERS
25.5%
58% are women.
7.4
ICT is not just a new branch of information technology and development of commercial products, it is also a cyber security area, which is a research priority for engineering and natural sciences, as well as medical, healthcare, social sciences and humanities. Thousand the number of scientists in Latvia in 2016.
The number of PhD graduates in the period 2013 to 2017
81.6
thousand the number of students in higher education in Latvia during the academic year of 2017/2018.
11%
The percentage of international students during the academic year of 2017/2018.
110.4
million EUR the amount of investments made in research and development in 2016, making up 0.44% of GDP. Target set for 2020 - 1.5% of GDP.
Independent and effective energy
Latvian energy policy should be focused on diversification of primary energy resources, increase of the proportion of renewable energy resources and increase of energy efficiency. Demographics and public health
1192 2013 to 2017.
20
The number of people obtained a PhD in the period
Thousand the number of students studying STEM (science, technologies, engineering and maths) subjects during the academic year of 2017/2018.
One of the greatest threats to sustainable development of Latvian society is the negative demographic situation, both negative natural growth and negative migration balance. Social protection, equality and security
This criterion focuses on issues involving socially disadvantaged groups and on action policies targeting specific and often marginalized segments of the society. Reasearch on education quality
Educational policy makers need support from researchers to regularly monitor education quality and improve teaching methods. Research on Latvian identity values: Latvian language, Latvian history and cultural heritage
In the future, the regions and countries that will strengthen and develop their unique identity will gain an important comparative advantage in the global race.
DEVELOPING LATVIAN SOCIETY, ECONOMY AND SCIENCE, FUTURE TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES
52%
The percentage of women amongst scientists in 2013. This is the highest number in the European Union where on average 33 % of scientists are women.
ICT, cyber security and smart materials
SOURCE: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE, CENTRAL STATISTICAL BUREAU, STUDY ON THE CURRENT ISSUES
21
The number of publicly funded research institutions in Latvia.
The number of active innovative companies in Latvia. Companies are considered active innovative if they have implemented at least one technological (product and process), marketing or organisational innovation and/ or have performed innovative activities during the reporting period (2012 – 2014).
In the medium term, challenges of the sustainability of Latvian society must become the uniting reference points for scientists, policy-makers and for innovation companies. There must be focus on this criteria in the following research fields:
