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The COVID-19 outbreak has heavily influenced the way many businesses operate across all sectors linked to both changes in the consumer behavior, social-distancing restrictions and also the availability of resources and services (inc. public services) for businesses. These restrictions have influenced also the work of enterprises in the sector of bioeconomy - producers, processors and distributors of manufactured goods like food, clothing or home goods and other bio-based sectors both in the stages of primary production and processing and distribution. This study aims to assess the digitalisation process of the enterprises in the bioeconomy sector, the enterprise's motivation for digitalisation and the impact of COVID-19 to the digitalisation of enterprises. It analyses the results of a survey carried out in Latvia in 2 phases - in 2020 and 2021 of entrepreneurs and employees of the enterprises working in the sector of bioeconomy, which allows to identify the digitalisation tools used by these enterprises and their motivation in moving towards the digital transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the possibilities of introduction of digitalization solutions for enterprises of the fisheries sector of Kurzeme region in Latvia and their impact on the improvement of business operations. The study describes the nature of digitalization, digitalization of the fisheries sector and the theoretical aspects of business models. The characteristics of the fisheries sector in the EU, Latvia and Kurzeme region. Empiric part is based on the individual interviews with business owners in 4 fisheries and a survey of their employees. This paper aims to assess the progress in digital transformation in the fisheries sector and elaborate scenarios for further digital transformation of the sector. The results are summarized in a SWOT analysis, which identified the advantages and disadvantages for digital transformation in the fisheries sector resulting in elaboration of three development scenarios: 1) non-compliance of SMEs in the fisheries sector with the digital transformation; 2) efficient management of the fisheries sector through the expansion of sales networks; 3) implementation of digitalisation tools in all stages of production. Considering obtained results and overall trends in the fisheries sector, implementation of digitalisation tools in all stages of production as suggested by scenario No 3 is the most advisable path to significantly increase the competitiveness of the companies and their exportability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although our daily life within a modern society is unimaginable without the use of information and communication technologies (ICT), the COVID-19 crisis really highlighted the ways we can maximise the use of digital technologies in optimising our work in distance working conditions with limited ability to contact each other physically, make direct sales and ensure the physical document rotation. All these limitations have pushed the governmental organisations, enterprises, and households to utilize numerous means of digital services and digital transformation aspects that had been started to be used, but the last year has rapidly pushed forward such aspects of digitalisation as digital sales, distance work using co-working platforms and cloud storage, electronic signature of documents and others. This study aims to assess the trends in online sales and use of e-tools from the perspective of enterprises and individuals in Europe in the sector of bioeconomy with the focus of the Baltic States and Latvia that could be used to strengthen the digitalisation component during and post COVID-19. In this paper, the authors have reviewed the scientific literature, policy planning documents, analysed relevant statistical data, performed statistical analysis, and estimated the tendency of the use of eSignatures in Latvia by applying the Holt's two-parameter model of exponential smoothing. The main results indicate a significant increase in motivation towards digitalisation that has increased rapidly in line with the necessity for an online shopping and distance work setting. Authors suggest supporting this tendency also in the after- COVID life, which would have a great impact on the overall digital transformation and potential to unlock new markets for bio-based products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of contemporary territorial development challenges – such as uneven growth trajectories triggered by monocentric development, social and economic inequalities, depopulation of rural and remote territories, environmental degradation – calls for addressing them in a systemic, multi-level and cross-sectoral manner. Collaborative and participatory approaches are increasingly recognised as a precondition for smart and sustainable territorial development where local resources and digital technologies are employed in ways that stimulate economic growth, increase social integration and wellbeing, and improve environmental conditions. We apply the framework of quadruple helix to explore the role of knowledge and innovation partnerships (KIPs) in three key areas of contemporary territorial development in Latvia, i.e., regional food systems, rural-urban interfaces, and rural digitalisation. The study is based on a review and synthesis of theme-specific results from across 11 national and European projects carried out by the Baltic Studies Centre since 2007, and national expert interviews. The results suggest that KIPs in rural and territorial development contexts have specific constellations and activities both within and across the three areas. It can be more challenging to establish KIPs there than in urban surroundings because of scarcer resources. When established, KIPs allow for pooling resources of different stakeholders for joint practical problem solving. Improved understanding and knowledge of local resources and systems within which those resources circulate, and targeted support for multi-actor knowledge and innovation collaboration within and across territories, including rural-urban ones, are needed to enable KIPs for sustainable territorial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]