Latvia to use Elsevier data platform to manage its national research information

Elsevier, in collaboration with the The Higher Education and Science Information Technology Shared Service Centre VPC, is proud to announce the national adoption of Pure as the national Research Information Management System (RIMS), contributing to implement the country’s research and innovation strategy. The kick-off event, attended by the Latvian Ministry of Science and Education and representatives of Latvian Universities, took place on January 28, 2024, in Riga. 

As exposed within the Latvian Government’s Guidelines for Science, Technology Development, and Innovation 2021–2027, Latvia aims at developing research excellence, encouraging collaboration between academia and industry, enhancing societal and economic impact of research, as well as fostering economic growth through innovation, notably in good alignment with the European Union’s Research and Innovation Strategy for Smart Specialization (RIS3).

In order to operate, the Latvian Higher Education and Science Information Technology Shared Service Centre (VPC) is building a robust, scalable, and secure platform that meets the strategic objectives as well as the operational needs for managing and promoting research activities of Latvia’s universities and Latvia as a country.

This requires special attention to be paid at optimizing data collection, storage, and visibility, both at institutional and national levels, through advanced analytics and reporting tools in order to address those national priorities:

1. Streamline Research Management, optimizing data workflows and reducing administrative burden
2. Support Data-Driven Policy Making: the centralized data shall empower government agencies and stakeholders to proceed with national assessment exercises, make informed decisions based on real-time research insights
3. Maximize Research Visibility, making it easier for researchers to showcase their findings 
4. Foster International Collaboration, helping Latvian researchers connect with their international counterparts, fostering cross-border collaborations that enhance the quality and impact of research
5. Strengthen bridges between Research and Innovation, facilitating cross sector collaborations notably within the key priority areas for development.

Statements from Key Stakeholders

Jānis Grevins, Director of the VPC: “The implementation of Pure marks a significant step forward in our commitment to advancing research excellence in Latvia. It will empower our researchers to showcase their work and foster collaboration across various sectors.”

“We are excited that Latvia is about to adopt Pure as national RIM system,” said Said Taha, Senior Vice President at Elsevier, “This system will not only streamline research processes but also enhance capacity to support innovation and economic growth in line with the RIS3 strategy. This forms the strong foundation for a successful partnership.”