Academic CentreOn 16-17 April, the staff of the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office of the University of Latvia (KTO) took part in the most ambitious science-intensive technology industry conference in the Baltics "Deep Tech Atelier 2024", organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia in cooperation with the Commercialisation Reactor and other partners. Deep Tech Atelier 2024 brought together technology entrepreneurs, scientists, representatives of Latvian and international institutions, investors and innovation enthusiasts from all over the world.
The conference was attended by a number of industry representatives who are highly regarded internationally for their professional work. For example, Rob Brinded, who specialises in counselling professional entrepreneurs and executives, offers a mind-body integration method that helps anyone to change their life and rewrite the operating system software of their consciousness that guides us in our daily lives. During the conference, leading technology experts shared the latest research and discoveries, giving the opportunity to gain in-depth insights into various technology areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, nanotechnology, space technology and more. It can be concluded that science-intensive companies in other countries face similar challenges in terms of viability, growth and access to finance at different stages of their development. KTO representatives participated in informal discussions with industry leaders, venture capitalists and experts, forging new partnerships and opening up opportunities for potential future collaborations.
KTO was represented at the Deep Tech Atelier 2024 workshop "Roadmap for the growth of science-intensive companies in Latvia", a workshop of national deep-tech ecosystem and government, where 30 key decision-makers, funding institutions and industry representatives in Latvia were personally invited to share their vision on the existing support for deep-tech companies and to formulate a common roadmap to help improve support mechanisms. KTO representatives pointed to the need to make changes in the regulatory framework of the innovation system (in terms of support for innovative research, motivation of academic staff and valorisation of intellectual property) and to reduce the bureaucratic burden at all stages of innovation.
