Support activities for innovation in Latvia: myth or reality
ENDeveloping innovative ideas and successfully taking them to the market is an important determinant for economic growth and sustainability. The stimulation of innovation and interaction between such actors as business, academia, research institutes, finance institutions, industry representatives, associations and government institutions are regarded as a key prerequisite for sustainable development of the state. European innovation policy supports the co-operation of national and regional innovation programmes and activities for innovation institutions and other innovation actors to implement joint action. There is a specific need to investigate innovation support mechanisms, state innovation policy and implemented activities in order to promote innovation in Latvia in a more effective way.The aim of this study is to analyse innovation support policy actions. The main research methods implemented involved qualitative data collection, processing and interpretation. The author of this study utilised a multi-method research design to identify and analyse the appropriate scientific publications and other information and sources of data within the scope of semantics, synthesis and content analysis. In the context of this study, such tools as monographic, grouping, reference, generalisation, graphical analysis and content analysis were all applied within economic science quantitative and qualitative research methods. State government policy actions in support of innovation are treated as a vital tool for innovation creation, development and promotion. Although there are many documents to be found in the area of innovation policy, there nevertheless remains a systematic lack of supportive action and/or financial support for innovation development in Latvia.
