On Tuesday, 9 June, the government approved amendments proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Cabinet of Ministers regulations on state and EU support for European Innovation Partnership (EIP) Operational Group projects. The aim of the amendments is to improve the quality of innovation projects, strengthen their practical implementation, and ensure that public funding is invested in solutions that deliver tangible benefits to the agriculture and forestry sectors.
Experience to date shows that some projects have resulted in solutions that are insufficiently tested or remain purely theoretical. Therefore, future requirements will stipulate that project results must be practically applicable and demonstrate a higher level of technological readiness. It will also be required that developed solutions are implemented in practice within a defined timeframe.
The amendments will strengthen cooperation between science and the sector by broadening the range of stakeholders involved. At sector-level projects, participation of at least three farmers or foresters will be mandatory. At the same time, the regulations will specify more precise project planning requirements, including a clear definition of the technological readiness level, implementation pathway, expected impact, and economic justification.
Greater flexibility will be introduced for the commercial use of innovation results after project completion. In addition, support for research organisations for the development of material and technical infrastructure will be increased to up to 90%.
The next application rounds are planned for September for sector-level projects and November for farm-level projects this year.
The amendments to Regulation No. 613 “Procedure for the Granting of State and European Union Support under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development intervention ‘Support for the Implementation of European Innovation Partnership Operational Group Projects’ through open calls for project applications for the 2023–2027 programming period” will enter into force on the day following their publication in the official gazette "Latvijas Vēstnesis".
