Latvia was accepted into the European Space Agency in 2020; however, funding for the country's further participation is no longer provided in the multiannual budget for the next year, said Minister of Education and Science Ilze Indrikson.
Is Latvia's participation in the agency at risk? There is currently no answer to this question. Scientists and industry experts have pointed out that participation in the agency has opened up various opportunities for students and the country's economy, making it extremely important to continue.
Over the past years, dozens of different projects have been implemented. For example, Latvian scientists at the Institute of Physics have demonstrated a new method of generating electricity for the first time in the world, particularly suitable for long-distance space missions. And not only for space - it can also be applied on Earth. This technology is called thermoacoustics: in space, it converts the heat from nuclear fuel into sound, and then sound into electricity.
The space industry has great potential and financial prospects. Leading researcher at the Institute of Physics of the University of Latvia, Arturs Brekis, noted: "In my opinion, this directly shows that every euro invested in the space industry returns many times over. It brings significant returns."
Moreover, space and new technologies generate great interest among students.
"In the multiannual budget for 2027, there is no funding for the contribution for participation as an associated member state of the Space Agency. Those years have passed, and it is clear that the government either did not assess the situation or decided that it is no longer relevant. I really hope this is not the case," said Indrikson. To continue participation in the agency next year, more than 6 million euros will be needed. Indrikson believes that participation must be maintained and necessary funds sought.
