The investment initiative proposed by the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) to digitize scientific activity and participate in the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) has been approved. The decision was made at the Cabinet of Ministers (CM) meeting held on June 17, 2025.
By November 2029, Latvia plans to develop a modern, competitive, secure, and internationally connected digital research infrastructure, integrated with the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science (MES), with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in cooperation with the Shared IT Service Center for Higher Education and Science (known as the Joint Service Center – JSC) and four research universities.
Minister for Education and Science, Dace Melbārde, emphasized:
“Digital tools and data processing are the foundation of modern science. This investment strengthens Latvia’s scientific competitiveness by providing our researchers with the same digital infrastructure, tools, and opportunities as those available elsewhere in Europe. Latvia becomes a full-fledged partner in the European Research Area, promoting scientific excellence, international cooperation, and practical benefits for Latvian businesses.”
As part of the project, a secure and high-speed data transmission network will be created to connect all Latvian research institutions, enabling stable information flow and collaboration. The necessary capacities for data storage and computing will be provided. Researchers will have access to a wide range of digital tools for data analysis, visualization, modeling, and other research processes, including international collaboration. All services will be centralized, user-friendly, and accessible through a simple one-click booking system, both for local and international research teams.
The initiative also includes the establishment of Latvia’s National EOSC Node. EOSC is a unified European digital research infrastructure used by more than two million researchers across over 800 universities. The national node will enable Latvian researchers to access data, resources, and tools from other EOSC partner institutions and collaborate on joint projects with EU researchers, using both local and international infrastructure.
The total investment in science digitalization and the development of the national EOSC node between 2025 and 2029 amounts to €16.74 million, of which 85% is funded by the ERDF.
Sarmīte Mickeviča, Senior Digitalization Expert at MES’s Department of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, commented:
“Through the EOSC national node, Latvian researchers will gain access to European partner institutions’ data and resources. This also opens new opportunities for research on Latvia-specific topics in collaboration with European colleagues—for instance, exploring datasets from the National Library of Latvia, language corpora, or climate and ecosystem data. The node will offer access to European resources, data processing tools, and data spaces, greatly facilitating cooperation across EU countries.”
Gatis Vītols, Vice-Rector for Science at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) and Board Member of the JSC, added:
“For an EU member state, establishing a national EOSC node is a critical and long-anticipated step that will significantly enhance our research infrastructure and the implementation of open science principles. Researchers will gain access to unique datasets and digital services across Europe. The node will also promote international and interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling the standardization of data and tools—especially relevant to LBTU's research strengths in forestry, agriculture, food science, and veterinary medicine. Shared computing and storage resources are particularly vital for large-scale, cross-border research projects.”
The creation of the EOSC national node will greatly enhance Latvia’s capacity for data management and promote the effective use of scientific results in both research and the broader economy. Researchers, universities, businesses, and public institutions will benefit from broader and more secure access to data. This will also increase the practical application of scientific results—in business, education, public administration, and more. The socio-economic impact of increased scientific competitiveness and innovation activity is estimated to reach up to €49.4 million.
The development of Latvia’s EOSC node is part of the country’s Open Science Strategy, approved in 2022. The strategy promotes a modern approach to research based on transparency, collaboration, and knowledge accessibility.
Open science fosters closer international cooperation among researchers and greater public participation in scientific processes. Data, publications, and scientific results become available to a broader audience, encouraging new discoveries, accelerating innovation, and ensuring a greater return on research investments.
The Joint Service Center (JSC) was established by the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, University of Latvia, Riga Stradiņš University, and Riga Technical University to jointly implement, develop, and deliver high-quality, shared IT services for the sector. The JSC fulfills state-delegated functions in the digitalization of higher education and science.
Details on the Cabinet-approved regulation project (effective from July 1, 2025) – “Implementation Rules for the EU Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027, Specific Objective 1.1.1 ‘Strengthening Research and Innovation Capacity and Introducing Advanced Technologies in the Common R&D System,’ Measure 1.1.1.6 ‘Digitalization of Scientific Activity and Participation in the European Open Science Cloud’” – are available on the official website of the Cabinet of Ministers.
