The aim of the project “Development of Innovation centre in Ventspils city” is to:

• promote knowledge development and career choice in field of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) with special focus on natural sciences and information and communication technologies of pre-school children, pupils and students;
• create Innovation Centre in Ventspils (Latvia) working in close cooperation with science centre “VilVite” (Bergen, Norway) as well as to develop and implement educational programmes and other educational and interactive activities such as technical workshops, science shows.

Direct target group of the project is pre-school children, pupils, students and teachers. Free access to the project results, incl. educational and interactive educational programmes and other activities to promote in-depth understanding of STEM and IT field for target group representatives from all over the country will be provided as well as transportation costs to get to Ventspils. Secondary target group of the project is active society: families with children and general public. Special activities will also be developed for this group which in an interactive way will raise awareness and stimulate interest in STEM and IT fields.

The main activities of the project will be the development and approbation of 20 different training programmes in field of STEM for the direct target group. 16 programmes will be dedicated to children and young people tailored to 4 age groups – preschool, primary school, elementary school, secondary school + students. Each age group will have 4 different programmes in the following areas: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. All of these programmes will be linked to the mobile demonstration equipment purchased within the project to link interactive and hands-on activities within the curriculum that will allow to practice and understand material learned or heard at school and elsewhere. While 4 programmes will be dedicated to teachers improving their pedagogical knowledge and competence in work with youth teaching STEM subjects.

In addition, 12 interactive educational activities - technically creative workshops and science shows will be created for the secondary target group of the project.

In order to promote the educational programmes and activities developed within the project an extensive marketing campaign will be carried out and various events will be organized.

The project will carry out various experience exchange activities, including science centre “VilVite” staff will train and share their experience with the Project Applicant’s staff both in the implementation of educational programmes and in issues related to the day-to-day operation of the centre.

It is planned that at least 230 Latvian pre-school children, pupils, students and at least 57 Latvian teachers will be informed and trained within the project.

The duration of the project - 36 months. Implementation period: 24 July 2020 till 23 July 2023.

The total amount of the project is EUR 2 011 676 with 90% grant rate EUR 1 810 508 (of which 85% is co-financed by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism and 15% by the Latvia state budget) and municipalities co-financing 10% or EUR 201 168.

Partners of the project: Bergen’s science centre “VilVite” and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences. Various experience transfer activities will be conducted in cooperation with the science centre “VilVite” while in cooperation with Ventspils University of Applied Sciences there will be Centre for young natural science researchers developed in Ventspils Innovation centre premises where young people will have the access to scientists from different disciplines, will be able acquire research programmes in STEM and IT, participate in various events (such as Science Nights, Young Scientist Camps, etc.) with the aim to convince young people that science can be very interesting and understandable, and encourage them to choose studies in this field.

More information on EEA and Norwegian financial instruments available on the websites: www.eeagrants.org.

Project number: NFI//IC/VIAA/2020/1

Program: Research and Education, Innovation Centers

Contacts: Project manager Maija Cēbere, maija.cebere@venta.lv

Project coordinator Viktorija Bediķe - Gauja, viktorija.bedike@venta.lv