EIT National Day 2025
Wednesday 8. October at 10:00 - 17:00
Arrival and coffee 9:30
RTU Science and Innovation Centre, Rīga
EIT National Day is a high-level event bringing together representatives from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, government, academia, and industry to discuss innovation, education, business support, and the deeptech ecosystem. Participants will hear from EIT sector-specific communities (Health, RawMaterials, Urban Mobility, Digital, and more) and learn about support and partnership opportunities.
Latvian organisations and startups are invited to register, contribute to discussions and take part in matchmaking with EIT KIC representatives.
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PROGRAM
09.30
Registration and Coffee
10.00 - 10.10
Opening Session
Alina Dolmate, EIT Community Officer in Latvia
Liene Levada, Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia
Raivis Bremšvits, Ministry of Economics of Latvia
Liene Briede, Vice-Rector for Innovation at Riga Technical University
10.10 - 10.30
Latvia’s role in EIT and future strategic plans
Martin Kern, Director of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology
10.30 - 11.10
Panel Discussion: Strategic Vision: Latvia and EIT - Aligning EIT and Latvia’s Innovation Priorities
Panelists:
Michal Gorzynski, Acting Head of Unit at EIT
Lauma Muižniece, Director of the Latvian Council of Science
Liene Briede, Vice-Rector for Innovation at Riga Technical University
Representative from the Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia
11.10 - 11.30
EIT Community in Latvia - Latvian Case Studies and Real-Life Impact with EIT
Andrii Shekhirev, Co-Founder at Biocatalyst Foundation - life sciences ecosystem building. Supported by EIT Food
Viesturs Celmiņš, Managing Director at VEFRESH - innovation support & industry collaboration. Supported by EIT Urban Mobility
Pauls Silins, Riga TechGirls - Technology Made Human project. Supported by EIT Health
Aerones
Reinis Spunde, CEO at Catalyco - from research to business. Supported by EIT RawMaterials
11.30 - 12.00
Panel Discussion: Bridging the Gap in Education: Potential for Latvian HEIs
Panelists:
Jānis Grēviņš, Ex-Member of the Governing Board of EIT
Karin Kaar, TalTech
Laura Vītola, EPICENTRE project coordinator ar RTU
12.00 - 12.45
Interactive Discussion
Bridging the Gap in Innovation: Potential for Latvian Deep Tech Startup Ecosystem Support
Panelists:
Ieva Jagere, Director of Latvian Investment & Development Agency (policy and co-funding perspective)
Osvalds Pugovics, Director of Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, coordinators of BioPhoT Platform (national early-stage support)
Didzis Rutitis, CEO at Sepsiscan (supported by EIT Health)
Solvita Kostjukova, UniLab, deep-tech ecosystem builder; co-founder of ALINA, Smart Indicators, P-Agro Minerals (supported by EIT RawMaterials, EIT Food)
EIT KIC representative
12.45 - 13.00
Synergies: How Other EU Instruments and Partnerships Support Deep Tech
COST opportunities for the EIT Community
Maija Bundule, COST National Coordinator
Latvian Patlib Centre (Patent Office) – IP support and cooperation possibilities with EIT Community
Ilze Grava, Director of the Development and International Cooperation Department at the Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia
Eureka Xecs: A complementary funding scheme to the Chips JU
Nadja Rohrbach, Xecs Director
Synergies with EIT Community Estonia
Sven Parkel, EIT Community Officer Estonia
13.00 - 13.50
Light Networking Lunch
13.50 - 14.20
Access to Funding & Business Support
Meet the EIT Knowledge & Innovation Communities (KICs): Opportunities for Latvian stakeholders
EIT RawMaterials - Tina Benda, RIS Manager
EIT Urban Mobility Hub Latvia - Anna Vieglina, VEFRESH
EIT Health Hub Latvia - Liga Zuka, RSU
EIT Culture & Creativity - Kati Uusi-Rauva, Director, North Regional Hub
EIT Food - Adam Strzelecki, CLC North-East
Case Studies from Latvia
14.50 - 15.00
Coffee Break
15.00 - 16.30
Organised workshops, networking & matchmaking
Business support: startups and partners meeting KIC representatives
EIT RawMaterials: Open Calls and KAVA Innovation Call 13 in Practice
EIT Food roundtable discussion: Investments in Agrifood (invite-only)
16.30 - 17.00
Closing Remarks
RTU Science and Innovation Centre • Ķīpsalas iela 6A, 1048 Rīga, Latvia
