Run for a Top Leadership Role in the Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum Elections
If you are 16-29 and live or are from the Baltic Sea Region, you are invited to run for a top leadership position in the Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum (BSRYF), a platform enabling young individuals to shape their future. Registration for the third election cycle is now open. Young individuals and aspiring young leaders can apply until 6 April 2025, with elections taking place online on 24 April 2025.
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Originally published on 12 Mar
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From September 24 to 26, Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis, together with 180 representatives of businesses and organizations, will participate in a trade mission to Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. On September 25, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa will also join the trade mission to participate in a business forum and meet with senior officials from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
This trade mission brings together more than 100 Latvian companies from various sectors – from biotechnology and sustainable energy to financial technology, information technology, and the defense industry.
Germany is the third largest economy in the world and one of the leading innovation and industrial powers. It is Latvia’s second most important foreign trade partner, with a total trade volume of €4.98 billion in 2024. Germany is also Latvia’s third largest export market, second largest import partner and main destination for Latvian service exports. In the first half of 2025, exports of goods to Germany increased by 4% to EUR 641.7 million, while exports of services increased by 6% to EUR 355 million.
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Originally published on 24 Sep
The Baltic Pavilion at EXPO 2025 Osaka has already welcomed around 800,000 visitors — a strong sign of its growing popularity. Its success has also been confirmed on the international stage: at the TEDA Awards, organised by the Experience Design Association, the pavilion won 2nd place in the Visitor’s Choice category and 5th place for Best Mascot.
The TEDA “Expolympics” competition highlights the most creative, innovative and impactful experiential design solutions at EXPO. This year, more than 160 countries and organisations are taking part.
“Visitor interest in the Baltic Pavilion has been strong from the very first days of the Expo, and we are delighted that the way we present Lithuania and the Baltic region has also been recognised by the international jury. Our aim was not only to capture attention, but also to build lasting connections — combining modernity and innovation with elements that reveal our identity and uniqueness. Standing out among so many participating countries is no easy task, and we are proud that Lithuania has succeeded,”
– Lina Antanavičienė, Commissioner General of the Lithuanian Pavilion at EXPO 2025 and Ambassador
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Originally published on 24 Sep
A prestigious recognition in the ‘Outstanding Use Case: Driving Digital Transformation’ category went to the consortium involved in the project, Oulu University Hospital, Pohde – The Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia, University of Oulu, and WICOAR Technologies.
The Hola 5G Oulu project marks Europe’s first private 5G network deployed in a live hospital environment, tested in high-stakes scenarios including patient wards and surgical theatres. Installed at Oulu University Hospital (OYS), the network delivers ultra-reliable, interference-free connectivity across patient wards and surgical theatres, introducing a new era of smart, responsive care.
Key highlights:
- Private 5G standalone network: Ensures seamless, secure connectivity, even during blackouts
- AR Smart Glasses: Deliver live patient data to clinicians in surgical theatres and wards
- Voice Communication Headsets: Enable instant coordination across hospital wings
- Wing-to-Wing Coverage: Eliminates fragmented communication and boosts operational efficiency
This project is funded by the European Union.
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Originally published on 24 Sep
NIB and Lithuanian Airports have agreed on a loan of EUR 20 million for the company’s 2025–2028 investment plan. The investments aim to enhance operational efficiency and strengthen Lithuania’s aviation sector’s long-term development.
A significant share of the financing will go towards constructing a multi-level parking facility at Vilnius Airport, which will help ease passenger flow and improve accessibility. In addition, the company will upgrade its ground transport fleet by acquiring new loaders, tractors, snow removal vehicles, sweepers, and other equipment to ensure smooth operations in all weather conditions.
The investment plan also includes the purchase of electric buses and charging infrastructure, making passenger transfers more sustainable.
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Originally published on 17 Sep
Work is underway at the Port of Klaipėda on a major project that supports Lithuania’s plans to develop offshore wind farms. In the area of the former International Ferry Terminal, quays are now being constructed.
“Klaipėda Port is moving with Lithuania’s ambitions to build offshore wind parks in the Baltic Sea. We’re preparing to become a key base for this project – setting up areas where turbine components can be assembled, handled and stored. Right now, in the southern part of the port at the former International Ferry Terminal, the constructor Tilsta is carrying out the first stage of infrastructure works – reconstructing quays,” says Algis Latakas, CEO of the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority.
Back in May 2022, the Klaipėda Port Authority and cargo handling company Klasco signed an investment agreement, launching the development of port infrastructure needed for Lithuania’s future offshore wind projects.
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Originally published on 22 Sep
Lithuania has reached a new milestone in the Global Innovation Index, climbing two places to 33rd among 139 countries. This is Lithuania’s highest position ever and a strong signal of the country’s rapid progress in building a competitive and innovation-driven economy.
“Lithuania is making remarkable progress in innovation, which is also reflected in the Global Innovation Index. This achievement is especially significant given the current global economic uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical challenges that directly affect our region’s investment climate. Yet we continue moving in the right direction — towards building a high value-added, startup-driven innovation ecosystem,” said Acting Minister of Economy and Innovation, Lukas Savickas.
Lithuania’s strengths lie in areas that are directly shaping its dynamic startup ecosystem. The country ranks 3rd globally for the share of women with higher education employed in the labor force, 8th for mobile app development, and continues to lead in unicorn value relative to GDP. These results highlight Lithuania’s role as an agile and forward-looking innovation hub.
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Originally published on 16 Sep
We are very pleased to announce that we have now officially opened ELCO I, a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on the outskirts of Tallinn, Estonia. The launch marks a pivotal step in scaling up the company’s role in the global energy transition.
The 14,000 m² facility significantly increases Elcogen’s available production capacity from 10 MW to 360 MW, positioning the company as one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of high-efficiency Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and Electrolysis (SOEC) technology. Elcogen’s components – cells, stacks and modules – are integrated into third-party systems for a wide range of applications including distributed energy, off-grid and stationary power, industrial backup, green hydrogen production, and Power-to-X solutions.
“This new facility is built for scale, speed, and global impact,” said Enn Õunpuu, CEO of Elcogen. “As demand for reliable Solid Oxide-based clean energy solutions accelerates worldwide, Elcogen is now uniquely positioned to deliver the high-performance technology the market needs, at commercial volumes.”
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Originally published on 17 Sep
The latest data from Statistics Estonia’s internet use and digital skills survey reveal that there are now 564,800 households with an internet connection, accounting for 95% of all households in Estonia. Compared with 2024, the number of households with internet access has increased by 20,000.
Tiina Pärson, leading analyst at Statistics Estonia, said that internet use is a common practice among younger and middle-aged people (16–54-year-olds), with almost 100% of them using the internet.
Internet use has increased significantly among the elderly. For example, compared with last year, internet use has risen by five percentage points in the 55–64 age group and by six percentage points among 65–74-year-olds. Compared with 2020, the increase has been even greater, at 11 percentage points among people aged 55–64 and 20 percentage points among people aged 65–74. “One key factor is the natural change of age groups. People who are already accustomed to using the internet are moving into older age groups, leading to greater digital competence among the elderly,” the analyst explained.
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Originally published on 16 Sep
Outlast Fund, a Baltic-Nordic VC fund, has closed its first fund at 21M EUR to invest in pre-seed and seed-stage startups from the region. The fund is based in Riga and Stockholm, and aims to be the first cheque in backing founders building solutions that are built to last, with initial pre-seed tickets of up to 250,000 EUR and 1.5M EUR seed rounds.
The fund goes against the grain in the investment environment, eschewing typical VC advice to prioritize quick exits. Rather, they look to scour the edges to uncover the most promising founders in the Baltics and Nordics, and are prepared to invest in them at the earliest stages to help them build enduring companies.
The fund is particularly keen to keep an eye out for serial entrepreneurs with a proven track record, ready to back them as early as the idea stage. Outlast Fund also invests in first-time founders who possess unique and specific insights within their chosen verticals. However, a trait that they look for in all cases is an obsessive drive to solve their customers’ most pressing problems. Regardless of whether the founders are better suited for building lean teams with the help of angels, microfunds, and syndicates, or if they are eyeing large rounds from the get-go, Outlast Fund is ready to support from the first cheque, rather than jumping in at the middle.
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Originally published on 18 Sep
Our administrative structures were created under conditions that no longer exist. This makes it difficult to manage long-term challenges such as demographic change, argues a new publication by Sitra and The Institutional Architecture Lab (TIAL).
The Rethinking Institutions in an era of Demographic Transition report offers concrete proposals tailored to Finland’s situation, along with international examples of how institutions can be reformed to meet the needs of today and tomorrow. According to the report, reform and foresight are essential if Finland is to respond effectively to the changes brought about by demographic development.
Demographic change is challenging the foundations of society: aging populations, declining birth rates, and migration trends directly affect the sustainability of the welfare system, labor markets, and agility of governance.
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Originally published on 17 Sep