The best business idea at the Icebreakers’26 festival will receive €10,000
The author of the most promising idea in the business idea competition at this year’s Icebreakers’26 business opportunity festival will receive €10,000 to support the development of their entrepreneurial venture.
Icebreakers’26 will take place at the University of Latvia’s (UL) House of Science in Torņakalns on March 5. The festival’s central theme is “Change the Rules of the Game,” accentuating the audacity to think and act differently in order to create innovations and develop entrepreneurial skills. It is a theme that encourages participants to challenge conventions, step out of their comfort zones, and seek new solutions that drive change in business, research, and society. It encourages the use of knowledge, creativity, and collaboration as a foundation for sustainable development—and participants to not merely follow trends, but actually change the rules of the game.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 4 Feb
Announcements are published as a service to readers. The sender is responsible for all content. Announcements for publication can be submitted to announcements@thehanseatic.com.
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.
Read full announcement (external link)
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.
Read full announcement (external link)
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.
Read full announcement (external link)
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.
Read full announcement (external link)
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.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 9 Feb
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have successfully synchronised their electricity systems with the Continental Europe Synchronous Area on 9 February 2025 at 2:05 PM. This is a key milestone for the Baltic States and for Europe strengthening the energy resilience and independence across the region.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 9 Feb
On February 20-21 in Stockholm, Techarena 2025 will gather +12,000 business leaders, founders, investors, and decision-makers to explore and discuss global trends, emerging technologies, the startup ecosystem, and the future of industries. Ticket holders will have access to an insightful panel discussion on the future of DefenceTech. Moderated by Ms Kadri Tammai, Regional Director of NATO DIANA, the panel will feature the Minister of Economy and Industry of Estonia, Mr Erkki Keldo, Head of Strategy and Portfolio at Saab Surveillance, Mr Hampus Delin, and Deputy Chief Sales Officer at Milrem Robotics, Mr Stefan Behre.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 6 Feb
After months of preparation, a fleet of 11 specialised vessels has mobilised to begin installing the foundations for Poland’s first offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea. This stage has already seen the successful installation of the first two of a total of 78 monopiles – towering 100-metre steel structures that will support 15 MW wind turbines. These generation units are among the most advanced in the industry, with a portion being manufactured at Vestas’ facility in Szczecin. With a total capacity of 1.2 GW, the Baltic Power wind farm is set to commence operations in 2026, delivering clean, reliable electricity capable of powering over 1.5 million households. Offshore wind is a key element of the ORLEN Group’s new strategy, which targets the deployment of more than 4 GW of installed capacity in the Baltic Sea in partnership with leading industry players.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 6 Feb
Estonia and the other Baltic States will disconnect from the Russian-run electricity network on Saturday and connect to the Continental European Synchronous Area on Sunday. The main goal of connecting to the European electricity system is to make our electricity system stronger and ensure energy independence and security.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 5 Feb
The Baltic Startup Funding Report by Change Ventures and FIRSTPICK is a semi-annual publication of detailed data about funding rounds for startups in the Baltics, including companies with HQs elsewhere but with a dominant base in Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania.
Read full announcement (external link)
Originally published on 5 Feb