Innovation Ecosystem Summit, «Innovate360°»

On April 10, from 10:00 to 17:00, Riga Technical University’s (RTU) Science and Innovation Centre will host the second Innovation Ecosystem Summit, «Innovate360°».

The summit will unite local and international innovation leaders from the public, private, and academic sectors to collaboratively explore solutions for accelerating Latvia's innovation ecosystem, maximising the country’s innovation potential, and enhancing its competitiveness within the European Innovation Space.

«Innovation is more than just new products or technologies—it is a strategic process that demands targeted and coordinated efforts. To enhance Latvia’s innovation performance, we need proactive action and concrete solutions for growth. We believe the «Innovate360°» Innovation Ecosystem Summit can serve as a vital platform to develop these solutions and foster closer collaboration between policymakers, academia, and industry. Together, we can create an environment where innovation becomes a driving force for our country’s competitiveness and economic development,» said Liene Briede, RTU Vice-Rector for Innovation.

This year’s summit will explore Latvia’s development opportunities and its standing on the European Innovation Scoreboard. According to the 2024 Scoreboard, Latvia ranks 25th among the 27 EU countries and is classified as an «Emerging Innovator», meaning its innovation performance is below 70% of the EU average. Latvia shares this category with countries like Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania.

While this ranking highlights challenges, it also presents opportunities for strategic improvements in Latvia’s innovation environment. The summit will identify key barriers, explore growth potential, and develop actionable proposals to enhance innovation performance and drive measurable progress in the near future.

This year's «Innovate360°» programme features a dynamic mix of inspiring presentations and interactive discussions, laying the groundwork for practical workshops. These sessions will focus on developing concrete action plans to accelerate innovation, tailored to the needs of Latvia’s ecosystem while drawing on best practices from leading European innovation hubs, including Denmark, Estonia, and Belgium.

Participation is free of charge, and the event will be conducted in English. It will take place at the RTU Science and Innovation Centre (Ķīpsalas iela 6A, 2nd floor, "The Moon" Hall). Seats are limited. More details and registration.

The summit is organised by the RTU Science and Innovation Centre in collaboration with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Knowledge and Innovation Communities—EIT RawMaterials and EIT Urban Mobility—as well as the open innovation movement VEFRESH.