Latvia hopes to establish regional EIT Digital Centre

To encourage the development of metaverse technology, the production of microchips, quantum research and to improve the digital skills of the public in this region, Riga Technical University (RTU) has signed a letter of support for the creation of a regional centre of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) knowledge and innovation community — EIT Digital — in Latvia.

The letter was signed during a meeting between RTU leadership and representatives of EIT Digital and the Latvian innovation ecosystem. During the meeting, EIT Digital representatives expressed their appreciation for the region’s enormous potential, confirmed by the ability of Latvian higher education institutions to achieve several significant innovations over the past few years.

“The creation of this kind of regional centre would give Latvia’s innovation ecosystem the opportunity to integrate into the European digital innovation community, while simultaneously forging new collaboration opportunities with more than 300 partners from the EIT Digital ecosystem, including startups, manufacturers, research institutions, investors and public sector organisations,” explains Liene Briede, Vice Rector of Innovations at RTU.

The creation of this office would also help with attracting European co-financing for the development and research of metaverse technology, microchips and quantum research technology. This would lead to beneficial conditions for creating innovative products and services, bring together experts from their respective fields, and promote the development of digital skills.

RTU also plans to become an EIT Digital Master School educational programme partner university. Participation in this programme will help Latvia to attract overseas students and give Latvian students the opportunity to study at Europe’s best technology universities.

During the meeting, RTU, the RTU Business School, the University of Latvia, the Latvian IT Cluster, the Digital Accelerator of Latvia, Elektroniskie Sakari, Riga TechGirls, Magnetic Professional, Latvijas Mobilais Telefons, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development and the Ministry of Education and Science expressed their opinions on various innovation challenges faced by the region.

EIT Digital is Europe’s largest digital innovation and education ecosystem. The aim of founding a regional EIT Digital centre is to align the European education system with the digital reality, as well as to promote investment into digital technology research with an emphasis on developing software.

Source: Press release (www.labsoflatvia.com)
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