The Port of Klaipėda opens the cruise season: over 60 ships expected and a passenger record in sight

The first cruise ship of the season has already arrived the Port of Klaipėda. This year, more than 60 impressive ships will arrive at the port, bringing a record number of tourists to the region.

“On Saturday, we welcomed the first cruise ship of the season – the Bahamas-flagged MS Hamburg. The first ship arrived nearly full, bringing not only several hundred tourists but also a promise of an active and record-breaking season. We expect around 90,000 tourists to reach Lithuania through the Port of Klaipėda this year – a record in the port’s history. And when we look ahead to 2027, we already see over 100 ships and even more travelers. This confirms that our decision to develop a new cruise terminal was timely – it will significantly improve the quality of passenger experience and strengthen Lithuania’s image as an attractive cruise destination,” says Algis Latakas, CEO of Klaipėda State Seaport Authority.

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Originally published on 4 May

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Ignitis ON network to install 500 charging points with the help of EUR 16 million EU financial support

By Ignitis 28 February 2025

In the coming years Ignitis ON, the leading EV fast-charging network, will become even larger and more convenient for EV drivers. The European Union (EU) made a decision to allocate EUR 16 million for the charging network’s expansion. The grant will help fund the installation of 500 new charging points. It is the largest-ever allocated sum to a charging network operator in the Baltics.

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Originally published on 27 Feb

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Baltic Energy Business Forum

By Orlen 28 February 2025

The Baltic Sea plays an increasingly important role in the European energy sector, contributing both to energy security and the ongoing energy transition in the region. At ORLEN, we are committed to initiatives focused on this vital basin and fostering discussions on how to fully harness the Baltic Sea’s potential for the benefit of businesses and societies.

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HYBRIT: Large-scale storage of fossil-free hydrogen gas successfully proven

By Hybrit 27 February 2025

HYBRIT’s pilot project for hydrogen gas storage has now been completed and reported to the Swedish Energy Agency. The results show that it is technically possible to store fossil-free hydrogen gas for producing fossil-free iron and steel on an industrial scale. This can also reduce the variable operating costs of hydrogen production by up to 40 per cent.

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Originally published on 27 Feb

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Restoring Mobility Opportunities in the Border Region: The ROCC Project Takes the Next Step

By Vidzeme Planning Region 26 February 2025

In the Estonian-Latvian border region, public transport services that once provided convenient travel options for residents of both countries have been absent for several decades. The ROCC project, supported by the Interreg Estonia-Latvia Programme 2021-2027, is now approaching a significant milestone—the launch of two pilot bus routes. The Valga-Valka and Ikla-Ainaži (Salacgrīva) bus lines are expected to begin operating in the spring of 2025, offering new mobility opportunities for border residents and travelers alike.

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Originally published on 25 Feb

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Estonia and OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to schools nationwide

By OpenAI 26 February 2025

OpenAI is proud to work with Estonia’s government on a world-first initiative to provide all students and teachers in the secondary school system with access to ChatGPT Edu, a version of ChatGPT customized for education systems, starting with 10th and 11th graders by September 2025. 

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Originally published on 25 Feb

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Modular unmanned ground platforms created in Latvia start operating in Ukraine

By Labs of Latvia 25 February 2025

A new solution has emerged in Latvia’s defence technology sector: the unmanned ground platform developed by the Latvian startup Natrix is a universal, modular solution that can be adapted for various applications. Currently, the Natrix platform’s primary tasks are delivering ammunition and food to the frontline and on the return journey evacuating the wounded and deceased, thus significantly reducing the risk of casualties for rescuers who previously had to evacuate the injured manually.

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Originally published on 25 Feb

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CDG Booster – mentoring program VR/AR/XR businesses and game developers

By Tartu Science Park 25 February 2025

Are you a VR/AR/XR company or a game developer in Finland, Sweden or Estonia looking to accelerate your growth?

The CDG-Booster program invites you to an inclusive community of peers and industry experts to help your company speed up growth, avoid business pitfalls, save resources, find your strengths and learn how to exploit them.

Through this program, your company will become it’s next, improved version of itself and you will journey the path to become a smarter and better entrepreneur.

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Originally published on 21 Feb

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SEK 22 billion in EIB financing provided for Swedish firms and municipalities in 2024

By European Investment Bank 24 February 2025

Over the course of 2024, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) continued to support Sweden’s economic development and climate initiatives through substantial investments.

The EIB Group’s financing during the year amounted to around SEK 22 billion, of which more than 60% went to climate measures and environmental sustainability. This money supported wind power, energy-efficient housing and industrial electrification, among other projects.

These investments are estimated to have kept 32 000 jobs in Sweden.

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Originally published on 20 Feb

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From Tallinn to Warsaw: Rail Baltica’s progress in Poland strengthens high-speed connectivity across Europe

By Rail Baltica 24 February 2025

In the Rail Baltica project, envisioned as a seamless corridor stretching from Warsaw to Tallinn, Poland plays a crucial role as a strategic partner, serving as the gateway connecting Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia with the broader European rail network. While work on Rail Baltica has been progressing in all three Baltic countries, with 43% of the mainline expected to be construction-ready and actively under development by the end of this year, the Polish section has also experienced continuous development for several years.

Rail Baltica team recently conducted a visit to Poland to assess modernization efforts and observe the progress of the railway line that will connect Poland to the Lithuanian border.

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Originally published on 24 Feb

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The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, together with partners from four countries, will implement the “AGRI-BIOCIRCULAR-HUB” project

By Investment and Development Agency of Latvia 22 February 2025

LIAA will carry out the project “Agri-Biocircular-Hub: Center of Excellence for Smart Agriculture and Circular Bioeconomy Towards a Sustainable Agri-Food Sector in Enlargement Countries.” The project will be implemented over a four-year period, from 2025 to 2029. LIAA’s 2023-2029 strategy focuses on fostering knowledge-intensive business, export growth, and investment attraction, with an emphasis on smart specialization strategy (RIS3) areas.

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Originally published on 21 Feb

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