EN
This article analyses the role of cooperation, social networks and social capital in stimulating innovations in enterprises which shape the basis for a knowledge-based economy in Latvia. Although Latvia has participated in EU's assessments of innovative activities, the results of these assessments have never been analysed in terms of social capital. By using comparative reports, one can compare the situation in Latvia with the situation in other countries. The first part of the article addresses theoretical aspects of social capital and creation of innovations. The second part gives an insight into two of the most popular instruments used for comparing European countries in the field of innovations, namely, the European Innovation Scoreboard and the Community Innovation Survey. The third part analyses the effect of social capital on the indicators of a national innovation system in Latvia. In the final part, data obtained from the most recent Community Innovation Survey are used to analyse the effect of cooperation on creating innovations in Latvia's and Estonia's food industry.