Dita Traida, Director of the State Education Development Agency (VIAA), and Igors Prelatovs, Chairman of Daugavpils City Council, have signed an agreement on the implementation of the Norwegian grant project “Establishment of an Innovation Center in Daugavpils”.
In cooperation with project partners, Trondheim Science Center in Norway and Daugavpils University, Daugavpils City Council plans to create an interactive environment and new skills and knowledge acquisition opportunities not only for pupils and students, but also for education professionals, developing their competencies and knowledge in STEM science.
“I am convinced that the establishment of the Daugavpils Innovation Center is a significant investment in the city to create space for exciting knowledge and popularization of various fields of science in children and youth. Daugavpils will add significant investment to the development of youth interests and science centers in Latvia. creative education space for the city and all residents of Latgale region, as well as for the guests of the city, “comments D. Traidās.
Over the three years, the Innovation Center plans to set up various interest education programs, activities and classes, thematic exhibitions, exchange visits and seminars, workshops, co-working spaces, public and out-of-center events for children and young people to increase curiosity about entrepreneurship and career choices in STEM.
The project “Establishment of the Innovation Center in Daugavpils” will be implemented in the existing building of the Daugavpils Innovation Center, where renovation is planned, which will introduce modern and stylized equipment in the premises, as well as supplement it with technological and creative solutions.
The project “Establishment of Innovation Center in Daugavpils” is financed EEA / N (European Economic Area and Norway) Grant Program “Research and Education”. Its total costs are 2,011,605.00 euros, of which 1,538,877.40 euros are Norwegian grant financing, 271,566.60 euros are co-financing from the Latvian state budget, and 201,161.00 euros are Daugavpils municipality money investments. The project will be implemented by Daugavpils City Council in close cooperation between the partners involved in the project – Trondheim Science Center (Norway) and Daugavpils University, as well as other science and innovation centers in Latvia.
The EEA Grant Program “Research and Education” is managed by the Ministry of Education and Science, which is responsible for developing the concept of the program, more effective implementation of financial instruments and targeted support in priority areas. VIAA, in its turn, as a program implementer performs project evaluation, implementation monitoring and control.
—–—