BA School of Business and Finance launches 18 grant projects for researchers and PhD students

02.10.2024.

Researchers of BA School of Business and Finance of Latvia and doctoral students who study at the Doctoral   study program “Business Management” within the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism project “Internal and External Consolidation of the University of Latvia” (hereafter Consolidation project) have started implementing 10 academic career grant projects.  Within the Consolidation project 2 researcher (professor) grant projects have been approved for a total amount of 138 thousand EUR and 8 PhD grant projects for 581 thousand EUR. In addition, 8 research and development grant projects have been approved totaling 1.2 million EUR.

Doctoral grants support doctoral studies, thus enhancing the achievement of the objective set by the doctoral student, i.e. the development and defense of doctoral thesis, promoting the preparation of well-qualified and skilled researchers and professionals, thus strengthening the Management Science sector in Latvia and significantly investing in business and enterprise development in Latvia and Europe. The Joint PhD study program “Business Management” implemented by BA School of Business and Finance and RISEBA University of Applied Sciences prepares PhD degree holders in economics and business.

Researchers (professors) grants and research and development grants provide support for conducting unique research in social sciences, promoting opportunities for scientists and researchers to address current societal issues and understand them deeper. These grants are essential for researchers to carry out innovative projects, which are often too specific to draw funding from traditional sources.

Research and development grants are implemented in priority areas such as the green and circular economy, digital transformation and innovation in business, strategic resilience and security in cyberspace, etc.

The purpose of the implementation of grants is to create new knowledge and technological knowledge and develop full research capacity in the relevant scientific sectors, including ensuring co-operation with the business sector, promoting international co-operation and developing competitive research projects.

Subjects of study of researchers (professors) grants:

  • “Development of Quintuple helix circular business model for Industrial Symbiosis”;
  • “The new paradigm in education – changing values and integrating Sustainable Development goals into the study content”.

Research and development grant research topics:

  • “Advancing Strategic Resilience through Cybersecurity in Sustainability Practices (CyberSustain)”;
  • “Integrating Socio-Economic Aspects of the European Green Deal into Research and Academic Content: A Circular Economy Framework”;
  • “Opportunities and challenges of the application of generative artificial intelligence technologies in the development of social sciences studies and research processes”;
  • “The Role of Digital Finance Innovation in Promoting Sustainable Development Goals (DInnoFin)”;
  • “Digital Tools in Entrepreneurship Education: The Impact on Entrepreneurial Intention and Attraction of Development Funding”;
  • “Corporate Identity in the Digital Age: The Impact of Digital Transformation on Corporate Identity Management and Strategy formation”;
  • “Sustainable Idea Management”;
  • “Creation of a systemic model for technology transfer and innovation commercialization processes in Latvian research institutions”.

“One of the fundamental strategic directions  of BA School of Business and Finance (BASBF) for 2024-2025  signifies the move towards excellence in research in the areas of strategic specialisation. We are pleased that PhD students, researchers (professors) of BASBF  demonstrate in their research themes the relevance and diversity,as well as research projects and development grant projects show a professional cooperation with researchers from the University of Latvia. I wish all project teams to achieve the objectives set out in the project, to get satisfaction with what has been done and to improve their professional development,” comments Biruta Dzerve,  Vice rector for Studies and Science at BASBF.

Grant tenders are one of the activities implemented on the basis of Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 721 of 5 December 2023, Reform 5.2 of the Latvian Recovery and Resilience Mechanism Plan and Implementing Regulations of the Second Round of Investment “Grants for implementation of changes in Consolidation and Management” of the Investment direction “Ensuring Change in the Management Model of institutions of higher Education and Science”, 5.2.1.1. I. Investment “Research, Development and consolidation grants”. Grants shall be granted from the resources of the Recovery Fund and State budget and administered within the framework of the joint project “Internal and External consolidation of the University of Latvia” (No. 5.2.1.1.i.0/2/24/I/CFLA/007) of the University of Latvia and of BA School of Business and Finance provided for in Cabinet Regulations. The total duration of the project is until 31 May 2026.