Daunis Auers, PhD, LaSER Chairman of the Board, Professor at the University of Latvia (LU), Jean Monnet Professor and Director of the LU “Social Sciences” PhD programme.

Studied at the London School of Economics (LSE) and University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom. He was a Fulbright Program researcher at the University of California at Berkeley, USA (2005-2006), Fulbright Professor at the University of Washington in Seattle (2023-2024), and a Baltic-American Freedom Foundation researcher at Wayne State University in Detroit, USA (2014). He is a former President of the US-based Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies. At present, he is a member of the National Competitiveness Council formed by the Latvian State President, a member of Riga Stradiņš University’s Advisors’ Convention and an Advisor to the Convention of the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He researches and writes about politics, political risks and the economic competitiveness of European countries and the Baltic States.

Uldis Spuriņš, LaSER Research Director.

Studied at Fordham University in the United States, the University of Southern Denmark (Syddansk Universitet) and the University of Latvia. He has worked as an economics lecturer at City University of New York (CUNY) and Fordham University, and as Certus Think Tank’s Lead Researcher. He has written economic studies for various businesses, governmental and non-governmental organisations. He has conducted studies focusing on the ICT, health, pharmaceutical, higher education, manufacturing, construction material production and other sectors of the Latvian economy.

PhD student at the University of Latvia Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences focusing his research on defence innovation ecosystems in small European countries. Holds an MA in Diplomacy and BA in Political Science from the University of Latvia. Roberts has also studied at the Institute of Political Studies of Lyon (Sciences Po Lyon), Naval Postgraduate School, and Baltic Defence College. His research interests include defence and security, modern warfare and societal resilience, defence technology and innovation, and development of European Defence Technological and Industrial Base.

Tīna Birģele, Research Assistant.

Maija Tiva Hilla, Research Assistant.

Rūdis Freipičs, Research Assistant.

Artis Vilks, Research Assistant.