Latvia
Post-2015 intergovernmental negotiations.
Joint session between FfD and Post-2015 processes. 21-24 April, New York
Latvia’s comments
Technology facilitation mechanism, and other science, technology and innovation issues
Thank you, co-facilitators, for your wise guidance and making these discussions truly interactive.
Latvia aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union.
We fully recognize that science, technology and innovation (STI) is a crucial driver of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in all countries which speaks to the universality of the agenda. Moreover we would like to encourage toframe this discussion within the broader context of enablers for sustainable development.
We would like to highlight the following points in its national capacity.
Firstly, on the role of private sector and multi-stakeholder partnerships
- As it was already recognized in the room, most technologies are privately owned.
- Therefore multi-stakeholder partnerships, especially with the private sector, have to be nurtured.
- Joint efforts are specially needed to foster the involvement of small and medium enterprises global supply chains. Technology, together with know-how transfer enables SMEs to analyze market opportunities, build capacity to develop their ideas into attractive business projects, find partners.
Secondly, on fostering enabling policy environment at all levels.
- From our own experience as a small open economy, we would like to note that any STI fostering policies need to go hand in hand with strengthening of good governance and rule of law, especially at the national level. The protection of intellectual property rights, accommodating tax regimes, funding for R&D are all essential preconditions for innovation.
- Moreover, an enabling environment requires strong commitment to quality education and training that supports the development of skills and is vital for innovation. Capacity building will be important to ensure effective institutions and human skills for implementing the new agenda. This includes ensuring capacity to design and implement policies and to adopt measures, collect data, assess results and review strategies.
- We would also like to stress the benefits of ICT in this discussion on enablers for sustainable and inclusive growth. Notably ICT fosters creativity and innovation, open information society and gender equality.
Thirdly, we need to coordinate and build synergies between existing mechanisms and networks; and ensure the participation of all relevant stakeholders.
- All countries should increase cooperation at all levels on STI, including on ICT and digitalization to promote the implementation of SDGs.
- We are looking forward to further discussions on how to make the numerous existing mechanisms work for sustainable development.
Finally, we would like to note that many aspects on STI, such as the technology transfer mechanism, enhanced cooperation, domestic technology development and ICT are currently depicted in both tracks – the post-2015 and the FFD. It is one of the examples why we believe that FFD should be the MoI pillar of the post-2015 framework.
Thank you.
Joint session between FfD and Post-2015 processes. 21-24 April, New York
Latvia’s comments
Technology facilitation mechanism, and other science, technology and innovation issues
Thank you, co-facilitators, for your wise guidance and making these discussions truly interactive.
Latvia aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union.
We fully recognize that science, technology and innovation (STI) is a crucial driver of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in all countries which speaks to the universality of the agenda. Moreover we would like to encourage toframe this discussion within the broader context of enablers for sustainable development.
We would like to highlight the following points in its national capacity.
Firstly, on the role of private sector and multi-stakeholder partnerships
- As it was already recognized in the room, most technologies are privately owned.
- Therefore multi-stakeholder partnerships, especially with the private sector, have to be nurtured.
- Joint efforts are specially needed to foster the involvement of small and medium enterprises global supply chains. Technology, together with know-how transfer enables SMEs to analyze market opportunities, build capacity to develop their ideas into attractive business projects, find partners.
Secondly, on fostering enabling policy environment at all levels.
- From our own experience as a small open economy, we would like to note that any STI fostering policies need to go hand in hand with strengthening of good governance and rule of law, especially at the national level. The protection of intellectual property rights, accommodating tax regimes, funding for R&D are all essential preconditions for innovation.
- Moreover, an enabling environment requires strong commitment to quality education and training that supports the development of skills and is vital for innovation. Capacity building will be important to ensure effective institutions and human skills for implementing the new agenda. This includes ensuring capacity to design and implement policies and to adopt measures, collect data, assess results and review strategies.
- We would also like to stress the benefits of ICT in this discussion on enablers for sustainable and inclusive growth. Notably ICT fosters creativity and innovation, open information society and gender equality.
Thirdly, we need to coordinate and build synergies between existing mechanisms and networks; and ensure the participation of all relevant stakeholders.
- All countries should increase cooperation at all levels on STI, including on ICT and digitalization to promote the implementation of SDGs.
- We are looking forward to further discussions on how to make the numerous existing mechanisms work for sustainable development.
Finally, we would like to note that many aspects on STI, such as the technology transfer mechanism, enhanced cooperation, domestic technology development and ICT are currently depicted in both tracks – the post-2015 and the FFD. It is one of the examples why we believe that FFD should be the MoI pillar of the post-2015 framework.
Thank you.
Stakeholders