About

National Research Programme “Innovation and sustainable development: Latvia’s post-crisis experience in a global context (SUSTINNO)” main objective is to analyze sustainable development in Latvia and factors that shape it, with a particular focus on innovation, its role in the economy and social sphere in order to highlight causalities of the process of sustainable development. Pioneering will be studies about firm level factors affecting market competitiveness of companies, about the impact of value orientations on social and reproductive behaviour, the changing patterns of consumption and their environmental impact, evaluation of measures aimed at minimizing social exclusion, the legal framework for sustainable development in Latvia. The research will generate new in-depth knowledge about post-crisis developments in Latvia that will be communicated to policy makers. The dissemination strategy of research results will raise the awareness of the general public about social science research. The programme will enhance internationalization of research in Latvia and will foster the involvement of Latvian scientists in international research networks.

 The programme consists of four following projects.

 Project No.1. The competitiveness of Latvian enterprises in external markets (Project Leader Alfred H.Vanags 2014-2016; Marija Krūmiņa 2016- 2017)

The overall project goal is empirical analysis of the competitiveness of Latvian enterprises in export markets. Particular attention is focused on factors operating at the enterprise level and on the food  products sector as a significant driver of polycentric development. It is expected that project outputs will contribute to more informed policy making in the areas of enterprise competitiveness and export promotion.

Project No.2. Social dimension of sustainability and social innovation (Project Leader Baiba Bela)

The project goals are in-depth analysis of Latvia's post-crisis social problems, the options to overcome these problems and their impact on sustainable social and regional development, with a particular focus on contribution of social innovation to population's securitability and community's resilience. As well as in-depth study of reduction of poverty, social exclusion and inequality, analysis of the legal framework that sets obligations to ensure sustainable development and the governance system's ability to deal with the social problems effectively.

 Project No.3. Value orientations and reproduction of society (Project Leader prof.Jānis Ikstens)

The aim of the project „ Value orientations and reproduction of society” is to research the value orientations and social norms of the Latvian society with particular reference to the impact of mass media and soviet regime on their genesis, and to estimate the spread of social anomie. Further, this would allow to analyse how value orientations influence social behaviour, including forms of participation (particularly among youth), the evolution of family models and citizens’ reproductive behaviour. Project research would lay foundation for academic publications and policy proposals for the enforcement of particular value orientations. Project will also promote the cooperation between the participating academic institutions and aid their capacity building, promote academic internationalization and active participation of doctoral and Master’s students.

Project No.4. Environmental Diversity and Sustainable Governance (Project Leader prof. Raimonds Ernšteins)

Project goal is to investigate environmental and sustainable development governance of complex socio-economic systems development to be viewed in the framework of complementary nature environment and human environment protection and sustainable management, by studying the content and processes of the development governance within both, multidimensional thematical and general comprehensive, approaches and beginning from local municipal planning level, in order to estimate parameters and factors of the societal value-action-load changes in Latvia.Environmental sector and cross-sectoral thematic research is to be carried out by multidisciplinary team of scientists aiming to deepen knowledge on governance regularities of environment and society interaction, thereby promoting development of interdisciplinary research, as well as widening possibilities to shape and develop proof based policies and initiatives, targeting further facilitation and providing of adaptive sustainable development governance.