University of Latvia Innovation Grants for Students

The Pre-incubation Programme is a four-month programme that provides support and resources for the implementation and development of student innovation projects, as well as for the initial validation of ideas. Within the programme, classes are organized on idea validation, development of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), market research, business models, marketing, and presentation skills. Teams regularly meet with entrepreneurs and industry experts to receive mentoring and consultations. Programme participants have access to the UL OpenLab facilities, including equipment such as 3D printers and laser cutters, for prototype development. At the end of the programme, a “Demo Day” is organized where teams present the results achieved during the programme. The programme is offered as an elective “Part C” course for which students can receive 3 ECTS credits.

Programme objectives:

• To promote the development of students’ entrepreneurial and innovation skills by providing support for idea development and initial validation.

• To help students understand market needs, develop an MVP, acquire basic business skills, and prepare for the next stage of development – incubation.

• To foster interdisciplinary cooperation between universities, students, industry, and businesses.

Benefits for students:

• Funding – support of up to EUR 3,506 for the implementation of ideas, intended for expert remuneration, the purchase of materials and services, and coverage of mobility costs.

• Scholarships – the opportunity to receive a monthly scholarship of EUR 280, providing additional support during studies and project implementation.

• Cash prizes – a one-time scholarship prize fund of EUR 5,000 for award-winning places on Demo Day.

• Further development opportunities – the best teams are offered the opportunity to continue developing their ideas in the incubation programme.

• Infrastructure and support – access to UL OpenLab equipment for prototype development, as well as professional mentoring and consultations from industry experts.

The Thematic Pre-incubation Programme is a three-month programme that helps create an innovative and dynamic ecosystem within the university by strengthening cooperation with other higher education institutions and industry. Its aim is to promote the commercialization of science and develop students’ entrepreneurial skills, focusing on specific sectors. Each programme is dedicated to strategically important fields such as artificial intelligence, educational technologies, and internal and external security.

Within the programme, students learn the principles of idea validation and Minimum Viable Product (MVP) development. In-depth market research and product–market fit analysis are provided to help students better understand the needs of their target audience. Throughout the programme, students receive mentoring and consultations directly from professionals in the respective industries. At the end of the programme, a “Demo Day” is organized where students present their achievements and receive feedback from industry representatives.

Programme objectives:

• To promote students’ innovation capacity and entrepreneurial skills by providing targeted, sector-based pre-incubation support.

• To help students validate ideas, develop initial solutions, and establish a foundation for further commercialization.

• To strengthen the university’s position as an innovation hub in strategically important fields and foster cooperation between universities, industry, and other partners.

Benefits for students:

• Funding – access to funding for the implementation of ideas, covering expert remuneration, materials and service costs, as well as mobility expenses.

• Scholarships – the opportunity to receive one-time scholarships for award-winning places on “Demo Day”.

• Further development opportunities – the best teams are invited to continue developing their ideas in the incubation programme.

• Infrastructure and support – access to UL OpenLab facilities and equipment for prototype development, as well as professional mentoring and consultations from industry experts.

The programme is open to both individual participants and teams. After the selection of innovation proposals, students are provided with classes, expert consultations, and mentoring. Each team is assigned a supervisor whose task is to ensure the implementation of the methodological stages of the work process and to oversee innovation development and prototype creation.

The Cambridge Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme is a high-level pre-incubation programme implemented by the University of Latvia in cooperation with Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. Its aim is to develop student ideas, strengthen their innovation capabilities, and prepare competitive innovation proposals at an international level. The total duration of the programme is five months.

The programme consists of two stages:

Latvia module (12 weeks) – Includes lectures and practical workshops on design thinking, customer research, financial planning, MVP development, and presentation skills. Teams work with mentors and entrepreneurs.

Cambridge module (1 week) – An intensive programme in which students become familiar with the global innovation environment, work with international experts, visit companies, and further develop their ideas. During this stage, students receive feedback from international experts.

Additional workshops are organized between the two modules to strengthen ideas and prepare teams for the international stage.

Programme objectives:

• To promote the development of students’ entrepreneurial skills and innovation potential in an international environment.

• To provide students with knowledge, practical tools, and mentor support for idea development and improvement.

• To help students transform ideas into viable solutions and prepare for international competition.

• To foster cooperation between the university, the business environment, and international partners.

Benefits for students:

• Funding – access to funding for idea implementation, covering expert remuneration, material and service costs, as well as mobility expenses.

• International experience – the opportunity to participate in an intensive one-week programme in Cambridge while working with international experts.

• Mentoring – collaboration with experienced mentors and entrepreneurs during both the Latvia and Cambridge stages.

• International partner network – the opportunity to establish contacts with Anglia Ruskin University and other partners from the Cambridge innovation ecosystem.

The programme is open to both individual participants and teams. After the selection of innovation proposals, students are provided with classes, expert consultations, and mentoring. Each team is assigned a supervisor whose task is to ensure the implementation of the methodological stages of the work process and to oversee innovation development and prototype creation.

The Incubation Programme is the next step following the pre-incubation programme and is intended for student teams that have completed the initial stage of idea development and are ready to move on to the practical implementation of solutions. The programme lasts six months. It is also open to teams already working on innovative ideas based on an existing proof of concept.

Programme content:

Within the Incubation Programme, participants are provided with access to expert and mentor consultations, as well as practical training sessions. The programme helps teams improve their products or services, develop sustainable business models, and prepare for market entry. Its aim is to support young entrepreneurs and innovators in transitioning from the idea development phase to the practical implementation of solutions, fostering product or service growth and scalability.

Objectives:

• To provide in-depth and structured support for teams to continue the development of innovations.

• To help strengthen team competencies and promote networking with industry experts and investors.

• To develop a funding attraction strategy for sustainable growth and the commercialization of innovations.

Benefits for students:

• Funding – access to funding for idea implementation, covering expert remuneration, material and service costs, as well as mobility expenses.

• Scholarships – the opportunity to receive a monthly scholarship and one-time scholarships for award-winning places on “Demo Day”.

• Networking and mentoring – access to a broad network of industry experts, mentors, investors, and entrepreneurs to build cooperation and gain valuable insights.

• Infrastructure and resources – access to laboratories, equipment, and other resources for prototype development and testing.

• Competence development – acquisition of practical knowledge and skills necessary for successful commercialization and starting a business.

The programme is open to both individual participants and teams. After the selection of innovation proposals, students are provided with classes, expert consultations, and mentoring. Each team is assigned a supervisor whose task is to ensure the implementation of the methodological stages of the work process and to oversee innovation development and prototype creation.

This activity is integrated into the study process, for example, as a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) development or prototyping week. Its aim is to promote the development of students’ entrepreneurial skills and innovation thinking by integrating practical assignments into study courses related to entrepreneurship, innovation management, design thinking, and prototyping. Within the activity, students learn the MVP concept and, through practical workshops, develop and test prototypes of their business ideas with a real target audience.

The activity is implemented in close cooperation with lecturers of specific study courses and academic programmes, integrating it as part of the course structure. It takes place as an intensive one-week activity that replaces or supplements practical course sessions. Invited experts deliver lectures on the MVP concept and help students develop and test their ideas while collecting feedback. At the end of the week, teams prepare a brief summary of their solution.

The aim of the activity is to develop students’ entrepreneurial skills, innovation mindset, and practical competencies. It enables students to quickly and practically test their business ideas, gaining feedback and a foundation for further development. This activity strengthens the connection between theoretical knowledge, the real market, and business practice.

The activity also strengthens the link between the academic and practical environment by providing students with the opportunity to test the viability of their ideas under market conditions and promoting their further development within pre-incubation or incubation programmes. It fosters interdisciplinary cooperation and the creation of new products and solutions, while ensuring continuity and the development of practical results within the University of Latvia innovation ecosystem.

A Hackathon is a thematic event lasting from 24 to 72 hours during which students form teams to solve challenges relevant to industry or society. Each hackathon focuses on strategically important fields such as artificial intelligence, educational technologies, and internal and external security. The aim of the event is to promote interdisciplinary cooperation by creating new concepts, approaches, or prototypes that can later be further developed in pre-incubation programmes.

At the beginning of the hackathon, idea authors present their ideas, and participants form teams. During the hackathon, teams receive support from experts and mentors - industry professionals and representatives of the academic environment provide consultations on idea development, technological implementation, user needs research, business models, and presentation skills. Teams also have access to UL OpenLab resources for prototype development, such as 3D printers and laser cutters. The event concludes with presentations of ideas to a jury that evaluates the achieved results.

Benefits for students:

• Practical experience – the opportunity to create new concepts or prototypes within 24–72 hours.

• Mentor support – access to guidance and consultations from industry professionals and academic representatives.

• Resources and infrastructure – the opportunity to use UL OpenLab resources for prototype development.

• Awards and scholarships – the best teams receive one-time scholarships for award-winning places.

• Further development opportunities – the opportunity to continue idea development in the pre-incubation programme.

Hackathons are planned to be organized regularly, each time focusing on different thematic areas. This will promote students’ innovation potential and strengthen the innovation ecosystem. Solutions identified during hackathons can be further developed in cooperation with companies or organizations that have proposed the challenges, thereby creating real collaboration projects and internship opportunities.

A Product Development Sprint is an intensive and practice-oriented activity lasting from 1 to 3 days. Its aim is to provide students with the opportunity to develop or improve specific products, services, or solutions for real industry problems in close cooperation with industry associations or companies. The sprint is designed as a focused innovation laboratory that emphasizes rapid results through the use of the latest digital tools.

The event provides practical training on solution development methodologies and digital tools. Industry representatives from sector associations or companies are actively involved as challenge owners, experts, and mentors, ensuring that students work on real and relevant challenges. The sprint concludes with team presentations to a professional jury consisting of industry representatives and academic experts.

Objectives of the activity:

• To promote the development of students’ entrepreneurial skills, digital competencies, and innovation thinking.

• To ensure close cooperation between students, industry, and the academic environment.

• To create viable innovations and real prototypes with potential for further development.

Benefits for students:

• Practical skills – the opportunity to quickly learn and apply solution development methodologies and digital tools.

• Collaboration and mentoring – the opportunity to work in interdisciplinary teams and receive support from industry professionals.

• Financial support – the opportunity to receive one-time scholarships for award-winning places.

• Future opportunities – outstanding solutions may continue their development within pre-incubation or incubation programmes.

Product Development Sprints are planned to be organized regularly, each time focusing on different thematic areas. This will promote students’ innovation potential and strengthen the innovation ecosystem. Solutions identified during the sprint may be further developed in cooperation with companies or organizations that proposed the challenges, thereby creating real collaboration projects and internship opportunities.

The Icebreakers Business Opportunity Festival is a platform that brings together students, researchers, and entrepreneurs, promoting the exchange of ideas, innovation, and cooperation between the academic, public, and private sectors. Icebreakers is more than just an event — it is an opportunity to break the ice, open doors to new opportunities, and meet people who want to create, inspire, and change the world.

Icebreakers is an annual one-day festival that serves as a launch platform for students and anyone interested in becoming involved in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation. The event is designed to connect academia, industry, and the public sector by encouraging networking, knowledge exchange, and providing practical tools for idea development. It is an important instrument for strengthening the University of Latvia innovation ecosystem, where theoretical knowledge is transformed into practical skills and the confidence to bring ideas to life.

The festival offers a broad programme that includes:

• Panel discussions and inspiring lectures;

• Practical workshops and masterclasses in cooperation with Latvian universities;

• An “Expo” zone presenting innovation and support opportunities;

• The UL OpenLab open laboratory, where participants can learn to work with equipment (3D printers, CNC milling machines, etc.) and create prototypes;

• A business idea competition with the opportunity to present solutions, gain experience and contacts, and receive financial support.

The main aim of the festival is to encourage the involvement of students and other interested participants in entrepreneurship by providing inspiration, knowledge, and practical tools. It serves as a bridge between academia, the business sector, and public institutions, creating a platform for meaningful cooperation and a pathway toward real action.

The festival brings together students, entrepreneurs, researchers, business experts, and enthusiasts in one place to discuss potential business opportunities, available support instruments for starting businesses and creating innovations. In this way, it promotes cross-sector cooperation and provides students with information about opportunities to form interdisciplinary teams and use the infrastructure of various cooperation partners, opening up broader possibilities for the implementation of innovative projects.

Industry Days are an initiative of the University of Latvia that creates an interdisciplinary collaboration platform bringing together students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and public institutions. Each event focuses on a specific industry, such as ICT, medicine, artificial intelligence, and others, with the aim of addressing industry challenges and promoting innovation development. The event is designed to inspire students and provide them with practical skills and contacts necessary for developing ideas and transforming them into real solutions.

Industry Day activities include:

• Inspiring lectures by industry professionals;

• Panel discussions on strategic development issues;

• Practical workshops (masterclasses), where students work in teams to solve specific problems.

The event promotes knowledge and technology transfer and strengthens the University of Latvia’s cooperation with industry.

The aim of the event is to create a dynamic and interdisciplinary collaboration platform that fosters closer cooperation between students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and public institutions. Its main objective is to provide students with the opportunity not only to gain in-depth insight into industry trends, but also to actively participate in innovation processes.

Industry Days are intended to become a regular event within the University of Latvia innovation ecosystem, ensuring their sustainable development. The format is easily adaptable to various thematic areas, allowing expansion into new specialization fields or industry sectors. The event can also serve as an idea generation stage for pre-incubation and incubation programmes.