On October 7, marking a year in the office of the current City Council, the President of the Republic of Latvia Egils Levits addressed the councilors, highlighting the most important issues in Riga’s strategic development, Riga’s role and tasks as the state capital, and opportunities to improve the quality of life.
During his speech, the president emphasized that Riga is a national center for the development of science, education, culture, and innovation, therefore establishment of close co-operation between these fields is necessary in order to create the excellence centers.
As an example of already developed clusters, the president mentioned Jaunā Teika, where within two square kilometer stretch of buildings 42% of Latvia’s ICT sector turnover is originated and the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, where the world level knowledge in materials science is created. Egils Levits highlighted these particular science centers, because he believes that excellence attracts excellence and urged the Riga City Council to strengthen the so-called knowledge mile on the left bank of Daugava where such education institutions as the University of Latvia and Riga Technical University are situated.
Full speech in Latvian https://www.president.lv/lv/jaunums/valsts-prezidenta-egila-levita-uzruna-rigas-domes-deputatiem
