Foundation "Ventspils High Technology Park" (VHTP) has become one of the cluster’s promoters in Latvia, thus offering opportunity for entrepreneurs to participate in regional and international supply markets more easily. 

By creating collaboration networks, or the so-called clusters, among the companies in the region of Baltic Sea and North Sea, increases the opportunity to participate in different tenders and take part in supply markets. That is why Ventspils High Technology Park in cooperation with several international partners has joined the project 'Interregional SME Supply Clusters along the Northeast Corridor''or the BalticSupply'.

The partners have carried out the analysis of supply markets in the region of Baltic Sea, created cluster’s website and database of companies. The main benefit of creating this cooperation between companies will be an opportunity to participate in more significant tenders, including the European tenders.

The supported fields of the BalticSupply project are maritime industries, energy and public infrastructure, as well as food production, pharmacy and health.

“If some ten years ago the theories of economics and business management spoke about collaboration networks and their influence on companies and the general development of countries, then now I can say that this theory has evolved into the development of clusters, which are considered to be one of the most prospective instruments of economical development,” states Member of the Board of Ventspils High Technology Park Igors Udodovs. He asserts that the most successful example in Latvia is the Information Technology Cluster. Mr. Udodovs points out that the main idea of the project is not to shrink into oneself and work alone, but to join the market and create collaboration that is honest and mutually beneficial. Collaboration within the cluster may be between companies of similar or the same field in order to receive greater order, or between educational institution and a company. “Basically, cluster is a collaboration network between many similar companies and institutions, within the framework of which everybody works to promote the development of every separate company and the field in general.”

VHTP has joined the project because, it is an institution that greatly supports IT and electronics industry in Ventspils, and has gained experience in creating collaborations.

All togeher 16 partners, representing every EU country of the Baltic Sea region, have joined the BalticSupply project. Besides VHTP, also Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and University of Latvia are the Latvian representatives in the project.

This year, in Brussels, project’s partners created the Political Advisory Group, with  the aim to represent the economic interests of country and region on the level of policymaking. Latvia is represented by Deputy State Secretary of Ministry of Economy of Republic of Latvia Andris Liepiņš.

The project BalticSupply is financed from the Baltic Sea Region Transnational Programme 2007-2013. The implementing period is until 2012. Total eligible costs of VHTP in the project are EUR 183 126.76, 85% of which are paid by the ERDF.  

For further information:

Salvis Roga
Ventspils High Technology Park
Phone number: +371 2 8663400
E-mail: salvis [dot] roga [at] vatp [dot] lv
www.vatp.lv, www.balticsupply.eu