LIAA

What LIAA does

LIAA (Latvijas Investīciju un attīstības aģentūra) is a Latvian government agency operating under the Ministry of Economics, established in 1993 to promote foreign direct investment, support Latvian exports, drive innovation policy, and develop the tourism sector. It is structured as a direct administration institution with no commercial shareholders, funded by a combination of Latvian state budget allocations, European Union Structural Funds (notably ERDF), and Norway Grants. The agency serves a heterogeneous beneficiary base including foreign investors evaluating Latvia, Latvian SMEs and exporters seeking international markets, early-stage companies and startups, innovation-oriented firms, tourism operators, and the Latvian diaspora.

Its service portfolio operates through distinct programs rather than a unified software product: the Business Incubator network (PINK pre-incubation and INK incubation) delivered across 11 regional incubators, 9 support units, and a Creative Industries Incubator in Riga; Innovation Voucher Support (design, discovery, and classic vouchers); Export Support Programs including national pavilions and trade missions; Large Investment Loans with Capital Discount; the Technology Business Center; the Green Corridor priority-investment initiative; Process Digitalization Support (up to €100,000); Commercialization Support; and Mini MBA innovation management training. Underlying infrastructure includes the business.gov.lv unified state platform for online applications and the Export and Investment Information System currently under development.

LIAA's go-to-market combines a domestic direct-service model, delivered through 16 regional representations providing face-to-face consultations and incubation, with a globally distributed foreign representative office network spanning more than 20 countries (USA, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, UAE, Ukraine, Uzbekistan). The Enterprise Europe Network Latvia node (operating across 60+ countries with 3,000+ experts) extends its international reach. Because LIAA is a public agency, beneficiaries receive grants, vouchers, incubation, and advisory services at no direct cost; its revenue mechanics function as administered public-fund flows rather than commercial pricing.

Name

LIAA

Legal name

Latvijas Investīciju un attīstības aģentūra

Website

https://liaa.gov.lv

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

LIAA is Latvia's government investment and development agency under the Ministry of Economics. It provides business incubation, export support, innovation programs, and investment facilitation through 16 domestic and 20+ foreign offices, funded by state budget and EU structural funds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Investment and Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery) (BPADAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Export Promotion & Market Access Support (BPADAMAC), Donor Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation (MEL) Programs (BPADABAN)

Keywords

• Investment promotion services
• Export facilitation programs
• Business incubation support
• Innovation funding programs
• Economic development agency

Headquarters

HQ city

Riga

HQ country

Latvia

HQ region

Europe

Offices32 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. EU Structural Funds Administration: LIAA administers European Union structural funds, including European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) financing for business support programs, innovation initiatives, and regional development projects.
2. State Budget Funding: Core operations funded by the Latvian state budget through the Ministry of Economics, providing services for investment promotion, export development, and tourism promotion.
3. Norway Grants Programs: Administration of Norway Grants funding for business and innovation development in Latvia.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

LIAA operates Latvia's national business support programs that help entrepreneurs, SMEs, and large companies launch, scale, and internationalize. Its offerings include business incubation (pre-incubation PINK and incubation INK programs across 11 regional incubators and a Creative Industries Incubator), innovation vouchers, export support (trade missions, national pavilions, official visits), large investment loans with capital discount, the Technology Business Center, the "Green Corridor" priority investment initiative, process digitalization grants, commercialization support, and Mini MBA training. Programs are funded by EU structural funds, Norway Grants, and the Latvian state budget and delivered free of charge to beneficiaries through regional offices, business incubators, the business.gov.lv digital platform, and 20+ foreign representative offices.

Product overview

LIAA (Latvijas Investīciju un attīstības aģentūra) operates as Latvia's Investment and Development Agency providing a comprehensive portfolio of business support services rather than a unified software product. The agency's offerings are organized as distinct programs that support the full business lifecycle: pre-incubation (PINK program) and incubation (INK program) through the Business Incubator network; innovation financing through Innovation Voucher Support; export facilitation via Export Support Programs; and specialized support through the Technology Business Center for technology-intensive enterprises. These programs are complemented by targeted initiatives including Large Investment Loans with Capital Discount for major capital projects, the "Green Corridor" initiative for priority investment projects, Mini MBA business training, Process Digitalization Support, and Diaspora Cooperation for international network building. The programs function as standalone support mechanisms rather than an integrated platform, serving entrepreneurs, startups, SMEs, and larger enterprises across various sectors of the Latvian economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LIAA Business Incubators: Business incubation support program providing pre-incubation (PINK) and incubation (INK) programs for startups across Latvia
• Innovation Academy
• Elwind Project

Products and services

• LIAA Business Incubators (PINK Pre-Incubation and INK Incubation) Pre-incubation (PINK) for idea-stage entrepreneurs and incubation (INK) for early-stage companies up to 3 years old, offering co-working spaces, mentoring, training, grants, and networking support across 11 regional incubators plus a Creative Industries Incubator in Riga.
• Innovation Voucher Support Financial support program offering design vouchers, discovery vouchers, and classic vouchers for Latvian SMEs to develop innovative products, services, or technologies.
• Export Support Programs Comprehensive export assistance including participation in national pavilions at international trade shows, trade missions, high-level official visits, and international trade events to help Latvian companies expand into foreign markets.
• Startup Support Programs Multi-faceted support for startups including risk capital investor requirements, a registry of supported startups, and a list of qualified venture capital investors to facilitate startup growth and investment connections.
• Large Investment Loans with Capital Discount Financial instrument providing large-scale investment loans with capital discounts for medium and large enterprises to support significant capital investments in Latvia.
• Technology Business Center (LIAA Tehnoloģiju biznesa centrs) Technology-focused business support center offering Innovation Academy training, prototyping support, and resources for developing innovative business ideas and technology-intensive enterprises, implemented through Norway Financial Instrument programs.
• "Green Corridor" Initiative Initiative providing priority investment project status and streamlined permitting for investments in smart specialization strategy sectors, construction, transport and logistics, and renewable energy production facilities.
• Commercialization Support Support program for commercializing research results, helping bridge the gap between scientific research and market-ready products and services.
• Diaspora Cooperation Program Program fostering cooperation with Latvian diaspora professionals worldwide to promote export, tourism, and foreign investment through diaspora networks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Target: 1030 supported newly established merchants by 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Commission project operating in 60+ countries with 3000+ experts, aimed at helping companies develop internationally. LIAA hosts the EEN Latvia node providing cross-border business cooperation, technology transfer, and innovation support services.
• Interreg EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU regional development program supporting policy learning and exchange between European regions. LIAA participates in 'Design for Innovation' and 'CAROTS' projects to learn from partner experiences and share best practices in business support.
• Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentral Finance and Contracting Agency partnered with LIAA on October 5, 2016, to implement the Regional Business Incubators project, co-financed by ERDF and state budget under EU Operational Programme 'Growth and Employment'.
• Buildit LatviaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTechnology accelerator in Latvia; companies that have received support through Buildit Latvia are excluded from certain LIAA pre-incubation support programs (de minimis restrictions).
• Komercializācijas ReaktorsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLatvian technology accelerator; participants in this accelerator are excluded from certain LIAA pre-incubation support programs.
• Overkill VenturesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLatvian venture capital and accelerator; companies supported by this accelerator are excluded from certain LIAA pre-incubation support programs.
• Ministry of Economics of LatviacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIAA is a direct administration institution subordinated to the Minister of Economics, responsible for implementing economic development, investment promotion, and innovation policies.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Ireland: Irish state agency focused on developing Irish enterprises and attracting inward investment. Comparable in mandate (enterprise development + FDI) though operating with a substantially larger annual budget.
• Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI): Germany's federal economic development agency, providing investment promotion and market entry services. Larger and broader in scope than LIAA, but a model reference for how national agencies can integrate FDI and export support at scale.

Others

• Nordic Investment Bank (NIB): International financial institution owned by Nordic and Baltic countries (including Latvia) that finances private and public projects. While not a direct operational peer, NIB is a relevant counterparty for the large-scale investment loan programs LIAA administers.
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): European Commission program in 60+ countries providing cross-border business cooperation, technology transfer, and innovation support — LIAA hosts the EEN Latvia node. EEN is more an enabling partner than a peer, but the network shapes how LIAA delivers internationalization services.
• CERN Industrial Liaison Officer network: LIAA's Geneva office holder serves as Latvia's Industrial Liaison Officer at CERN. While CERN is a research institution rather than a development agency, this role connects LIAA to technology transfer and high-tech innovation networks analogous to its RIS3 mandate.

Direct peers

• Poland's Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH): Polish state agency combining investment promotion and export support under one roof, with a network of foreign offices. Highly comparable in scope, though operating at materially larger scale given Poland's economy.
• Business Finland: Finnish government organization for innovation funding, trade, investment, and travel promotion. Operates an integrated model of innovation grants, export services, and FDI attraction very similar to LIAA's full-lifecycle offering.
• CzechInvest: Czech Republic's business and investment development agency, administering EU structural funds for innovation, startup support, and investment promotion. Operates a comparable program portfolio (vouchers, incubators, export support) under similar EU funding mechanics.
• Invest Lithuania: Lithuania's investment promotion agency operating under the Ministry of Economy, focused on attracting FDI and supporting export-oriented companies. Directly competes with LIAA for foreign investors evaluating the Baltic region.
• Enterprise Estonia (EAS): Estonia's national business development agency, providing export promotion, investment facilitation, and innovation support directly comparable to LIAA's mandate. EAS is the closest geographic and functional peer, competing for the same FDI, startups, and EU cohesion funding flows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LIAAGlobal
• YouTubeyoutube.com/LIAALatvija
• Facebookfacebook.com/LIAALatvija
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/showcase/latvijas-investiciju-un-attistibas-agentura

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LIAA