Over three years, the international project within the European Economic Area and Norway Grants (EEA/Norway) program “Research and Education,” implemented by the Faculty of Engineering Economics and Management of Riga Technical University (RTU) in collaboration with the University of South-Eastern Norway provided 65 RTU researchers, experienced academics and students an opportunity to explore the innovation environment in Scandinavia. Participants gained and exchanged experiences, interacted, and fostered the development of innovative business ideas and services in Latvia.
The project “Fostering Innovation by Sharing and Learning Best International Practice” aimed to exchange knowledge between Norway and Latvia to enhance innovative ideas, strengthen research capacity, foster relationships between academia and entrepreneurship, and explore the work environment for technology-driven and internationally oriented startups and established companies.
Building International Connections for Innovation and Education
Initially, it was planned that 39 researchers would participate in international mobility. However, during project implementation, additional support was secured for RTU, allowing 26 more researchers, including 20 young professionals from Ukraine, to gain international experience in Scandinavia, known for its rapidly growing ecosystems of advanced technology, innovation and startups.
During one of the visits, Professors Erik Lankut and Eivind Arne from the University of South-Eastern Norway visited RTU’s Faculty of Engineering Economics and Management, delivering two public guest lectures. Professor Lankut presented the topic of “Cross-Cultural Management,” emphasizing such themes as cultural intelligence, leadership, and virtual teams, while Professor Arne explored lean philosophy, Industry 4.0, and digitalization.
The professors also visited key Latvian institutions and companies, including the Parliament of Latvia, the Norwegian Embassy and LMT, where they learned about the latest advancements in 5G technology and autonomous vehicles as well as discussed student mobility and higher education-related topics. At Livonia Print delegation representatives explored innovation examples and internship opportunities for Norwegian students. Meetings organised strengthened the academic, entrepreneurial, and innovation ties between Latvia and Norway, fostering mutual learning and collaboration.
As the project progressed, representatives from RTU’s Faculty of Engineering Economics and Management, including participants of the MBA program “Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” went on a study trip to Norway to gain insights of the best international practices for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.
During the visit, researchers participated in academic studies and analyzed the relationship between industries and academia. RTU representatives visited companies operating in technology, defense, and energy sectors, such as Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace and TechnipFMC. They also visited Oslo Science Park where they explored startup and idea incubators, and DOGA, an organization promoting sustainable innovation through design and architecture. During the visit project partners discussed new collaboration models between RTU and Norwegian partners and shared experiences in managing internationally oriented businesses and implementing innovations.
Experiences Enrich Knowledge
Researchers particularly appreciated the opportunity to participate in academic research, exploring the relationship between industry and academia, and gaining international experience. The project resulted in seven scientific publications and several situational analyses, which will be used to enhance the study process at RTU. Five RTU bachelor’s and master’s students studied for a semester at the University of South-Eastern Norway and interned at Norwegian companies, gaining practical experience, establishing business contacts for the future and supporting company development with their expertise.
The project concluded in spring 2024 with a visit to Norway by researchers, students, and academic staff. This year’s trip also included nine Ukrainian students, who were particularly delighted to visit Kongsberg, globally renowned as a high-tech city.
The project’s total cost was €117 500, of which €99 875 was co-financed by the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism and €17 625 was co-financed by the Latvian state budget. The implementation of the EEA/NO program “Research and Education” scholarship activities in Latvia concluded in April 2024, covering the period from 2021 to 2024.
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