Latvia

On September 1, 2019, the EOSC Nordic Project was launched to promote the implementation of the EOSC in the Nordic and Baltic countries. Latvia is represented in the project by Riga Technical University. The Latvian National Open Science Strategy 2021-2027 states that Open Science development is formed around three pillars: Open Access, FAIR Data and Citizen Science. It is devoted to the development of EOSC related activities, competencies and infrastructure. Latvia participates in EOSC projects and development, such as through EOSC Nordic.

The Open Science Strategy includes undertaking several significant initiatives:

• Creating a Joint ICT Services Center for Higher Education and Research, to improve the governance and quality of joint ICT services
• Developing a “Dataverse LV”research data repository network, with a central node where all researchers can freely publish their research data
• Implementing a Data Stewards program (approx. 20 data stewards based in research institutions in Latvia)
• Requiring Data Management Plans (DMPs) for all projects funded by state-funded research programs
• Creating an Open Science monitoring system
• Encouraging greater participation of Latvian research institutions in the EOSC

Latvia participates in EOSC projects and development. such as through EOSC Nordic

Higher Education and Science Joint Digital Services Center (VPC)

The founders of VPC are four major universities of Latvia – University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, and Riga Stradins University. It is open for other higher education and science institutions. Currently, VPC represents 58% of Latvia’s students and 64% of researchers and scientists

The VPC has the following three priorities:

• Develop and jointly procure high quality digital services for research institutions
• Coordinate national stakeholders to address current and future needs
• Coordinate EOSC activities at national level

Contact the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia: pasts@izm.gov.lv

Moreover, VPC supports the development and international competitiveness of higher education and scientific institutions of Latvia by integrating, developing and providing high-quality shared information technology services. Under the mandate of the Government of Latvia VPC is the liaison for global academic ICT services in Latvia.

The services provided by VPC are divided into three groups:

1. Basket of basic services: provided free of charge to all industry stakeholders based on state delegations. Due to date, basket of basic includes eduroam, eduGAIN, GEANT.
2. Services provided to members only – services that are provided only based on the VPC membership
3. Services provided to a group of members – additional services provided to a specific group of members according to their requests. Only the group of members for whom the specific service is relevant covers costs. At the moment services provided to a specific group of members are HPC and Genomics data network.

Additionally, there are Latvian Academic Network and NZDIS that are available free of charge for the higher education and scientific institutions of Latvia and are currently provided by the Ministry of Education and Science. (accessed at: https://vpc.lv/services/)

In that capacity of the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia it is to allocate public funding and oversee VPC operations.