Budget, Education and Science, Financial Services, Latvia

He said that he doubts whether there will be any improvement in the near future, as a reduction in financing is also likely next year as well.

''Scientists are starting to leave Latvia for better pay abroad. A promise that everything will improve by next May is only a small light of hope, and I doubt scientists are ready to wait that long to begin work on scientific projects,'' said Kalvins.

Asked to be more precise about the number of scientists leaving to work abroad, Kalvins said that he does not have specific numbers, but that he has heard amongst scientific circles that more and more younger scientists from Latvia are leaving to work abroad.

''I think this is the attitude our government and parliament has towards Latvia's development, as we could reach a situation when we are the only country by 2017 which does not finance any scientific projects from the national budget,'' he said.