Latvia’s space and smart technology potential presented at EXPO Japan
In September, Latvian entrepreneurs and scientists participated in the world’s largest exhibition, EXPO 2025 Osaka, at a business conference organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) entitled “How Innovation in the Aerospace Industry Can Promote Sustainability and Environmental Conservation,” highlighting Latvia’s expertise and innovation potential in the field of space and smart technologies.
The conference took place as part of the Expo 2025 Osaka thematic week “The Future of Earth and Biodiversity,” bringing together experts, industry representatives, academics, and students from Latvia, Japan, and other countries to seek solutions on how sustainable aerospace technologies can help preserve the environment and biodiversity.
The conference was opened by Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže. In her speech, she emphasized: “Latvia’s achievements in innovation, ICT, quantum technology and other new technology fields are recognized worldwide. The geopolitical situation has promoted the development of the domestic security industry, including in the field of drone technology. Latvia also has the advantage of extensive technology testing opportunities – more and more manufacturers from our allied countries are coming to Latvia to test the latest generation of drones. We have also achieved a lot in quantum technologies – we are a “small quantum superpower” whose professors have developed algorithms that account for up to 20% of the world’s quantum algorithms. The minister also pointed out that confirmation of our companies’ achievements is also reflected in investor assessments – the investment climate in Latvia has improved significantly, and half of existing investors plan to continue investing in Latvia in the future.
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Originally published on 29 Sep
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Prototron Fund, Estonia’s first fund dedicated to financing prototype development, has launched a new competition aimed at finding companies eager to transform their ideas into practical solutions. A total of €75,000 will be distributed among the best applicants, with applications open until 28 February.
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Originally published on 12 Feb
The City of Oulu and Verso Energy of France have signed a joint venture agreement to build a hydrogen refinery in Oulu that will produce 80,000 tonnes of synthetic aviation fuel (eSAF) per year. According to Verso Energy, the plant is estimated to cost €1.4 billion and would employ 250 people.
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Originally published on 14 Feb
P2X Solutions, a Finnish pioneer in green hydrogen, has been the first in Finland to launch commercial operations of green hydrogen at its production plant in Harjavalta. The start of production at the Harjavalta plant is a significant milestone for the Finnish hydrogen economy.
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Originally published on 12 Feb
In the She’s Next 2024 grant programme by Visa, two Latvian companies—family-owned soil mix business Nordspring and Nordic herbal tea brand Plūkt—have been announced as winners. Each company will receive €10,000 and a one-year personal business training opportunity.
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Originally published on 13 Feb
LOT Polish Airlines has adopted 3D-printed arm caps for the economy class seats in its Boeing 737 fleet, marking another milestone in the use of additive manufacturing (AM) for aircraft interior components. The arm caps, designed and produced by AM Craft, address durability issues and supply chain challenges that led to frequent part shortages and failures with traditionally manufactured components.
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Originally published on 12 Feb
The European Commission has announced that it will allocate a €6.8 million grant to the Nordic-Baltic Hydrogen Corridor (NBHC) to support its feasibility study phase. This decision will significantly enhance establishing the hydrogen infrastructure that will connect Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Germany, forming a vital backbone for Europe’s green energy future. The competition for infrastructure funding in the EU is fierce, so this decision is a great testament to the quality and necessity of the NBHC project and showcase its potential to contribute to the EU’s energy self-sufficiency targets and support the clean energy transition.
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Originally published on 11 Feb
In 2024, the Estonian government and Enterprise Estonia committed to implementing a new incentive for large-scale investments. Scheduled to run from 2025 to 2028 and with a total budget of €160 million, the measure aims to increase the competitiveness, export capacity, and added value of businesses operating in Estonia. The Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, Erkki Keldo, signed the measure in the first half of February. Applications, managed by Enterprise Estonia, are scheduled to open in March.
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Originally published on 10 Feb
To keep potential suppliers and partners informed about procurement priorities for 2025, the Rail Baltica global project is providing a comprehensive overview of ongoing and upcoming procurement activities. These procurements focus on essential services that drive the advancement of the Rail Baltica project, covering key areas such as superstructure construction, environmental assessments, and design work for specific infrastructure elements and facilities.
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Originally published on 10 Feb
Draugiem Group company Mapon expands its presence in the Nordic region by acquiring 100% of the shares in Interkom AB, a fleet management provider based in Lund, Sweden. Mapon and Interkom AB offer fleet management and GPS tracking solutions, helping clients optimize resource management, enhance road safety, and promote sustainable corporate governance. This acquisition strengthens Mapon’s customer base in Sweden and brings in a team of seasoned professionals, enabling faster growth in the Swedish market.
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Originally published on 10 Feb
On 9 February, President Edgars Rinkēvičs paid a working visit to Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania. During the visit, President of Latvia met with the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, the President of the Republic of Estonia, Alar Karis, the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The officials discussed the accession of the Baltic states to the European energy system, the protection of critical infrastructure, the strengthening of transatlantic relations, the development of the European defence industry, the implementation of key regional infrastructure projects, as well as support for Ukraine and sanctions policy towards Russia.
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Originally published on 9 Feb