LIAA

The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) is a public administration institution under the Ministry of Economics that implements state support programmes to strengthen business competitiveness and innovation.

A core element of LIAA’s support for startups and early-stage companies is its nationwide network of business incubators offering pre-incubation and incubation support across Latvia. Through its regional incubators, LIAA offers practical assistance such as mentoring, training, networking opportunities, co-working spaces and financial support in the form of grants. These programmes are designed to help founders validate ideas, develop products or services and build the skills needed to grow.

Beyond incubation, LIAA supports startups and SMEs through a range of innovation and growth instruments. These include innovation vouchers, export promotion services, participation in international trade missions and access to advisory services through the Enterprise Europe Network. Together, these tools help companies improve their competitiveness, enter new markets and connect with international partners.

LIAA is also engaged in international innovation cooperation with CERN through the CERN Industry Liaison Officer framework and provides information and support to deeptech startups. Latvian startups may benefit from targeted opportunities under the CERN Venture Connect programme, as Latvia participates in CERN as an associate member state. While no dedicated national intermediary currently acts as an official partner for this programme in Latvia, relevant information and guidance can be obtained via LIAA, including through direct contact with the agency:

• Industrial Liaison Officer (ILO) for Latvia at CERN
  Head of the Latvian Office for Innovation and Technology in Geneva
  Investment and Development agency of Latvia
  alise.pika-ozola@liaa.gov.lv  
  +41 783171259 / +371 28893328

Finaly, LIAA also acts as a one-stop shop for foreign investors, assisting with business setup and market entry in Latvia. This includes providing information on the local business environment, facilitating contacts with public authorities and partners and offering tailored support solutions to help investors establish and grow their activities in the country.