OREANDA-NEWS. September 20, 2011. Meeting of the representatives of IBM and the Latvian side was held in the Cabinet of Ministers with a view to discuss the cooperation in the area of research. As the result of the meeting, the sides agreed to sign the Protocol of Intent in order to start joint work on the development of a research centre in Latvia.

Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis stressed that this is an important initiative that will allow for development of international competitiveness of Latvia’s scientific research. “Already in the coming weeks we plan to agree on a concrete model for cooperation with IBM and sign the Protocol of Intent between IBM and the government of Latvia. Continuing active work, the research centre could start operating already in the middle of next year. Nanotechnologies, renewable energy as well as researches related with the area of health and medicine are currently defined as possible research areas. The Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Economics, the Science Council, universities and scientific research centres will participate in the cooperation project,” said V.Dombrovskis.

Head of IBM Latvia Ugis Erins expressed his gratification for the government’s interest in the cooperation project which will definitely significantly contribute to the development of the area of research and innovations in Latvia:

“The cooperation with IBM will allow the Latvian scientists commercialize the results of their research, gain access to the most up-to-date technologies, increase competitiveness and the national economy will benefit on the whole, gaining commercial advantage from intellectual property,” said U. Erins.

Rector of the University of Latvia Marcis Auzins acknowledged that: “Within the framework of cooperation with IBM, the priority research areas will be identified where the universities should work to attract the leading industry players and ensure the commercialization of researches.”

In July 2010, during the working visit to the USA, V. Dombrovskis and representatives of several IT companies of Latvia met the leading employees of IBM who are responsible for research with a view to discuss the opportunities for development of closer mutual cooperation. The Prime Minister of Latvia emphasized that the companies of the IT sector in Latvia can offer not only attractive tax system, well-developed IT infrastructure, experienced and talented professionals, but can also successfully solve the tasks and problems of the leading world companies. Today’s meeting is a continuation of negotiations on mutual cooperation between IBM, Latvian companies and institutions which was started in July, during the Prime Minister’s working visit to the USA.

As we have already informed, the first meeting with the representatives of IBM was held on August 8 in Riga and the agreement was reached to draft proposals together with the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia and the universities for a cooperation model with IBM to develop the research centre in Latvia.

About IBM: Since 1993, the IBM Corporation has been a leading company according to the number of registered patents having registered more than 40 thousand patents around the world. This year the IBM Corporation became the first company in the world which has managed to obtain five thousand patents during one year. Since 1996, the IBM has been investing approximately USD 5 billion a year in the area of research, development and engineering.

Rector of the University of Latvia Marcis Auzins, Freelance Advisor to the Prime Minister Ivars Lacis, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Economics represented the Latvian side at the meeting.