Latvian Institute

What Latvian Institute does

The Latvian Institute (LIAA – Investment and Development Agency of Latvia) is a government state entity founded in 1993 and headquartered in Riga, Latvia, operating under the Government of Latvia. Its primary mandate is to promote Latvia internationally as a destination for foreign direct investment, tourism, higher education, talent, and diaspora engagement. LIAA operates the official latvia.eu portal alongside a network of vertical portals including latvia.travel (tourism), investinlatvia.org (investment), studyinlatvia.lv (education), and researchlatvia.gov.lv (research). The organization employs a small core team of 12 staff and runs flagship programs such as the Deep Tech Atelier conference (founded 2018, scaled to 1,500+ participants from 53 countries by 2024) and the Liepaja 2027 European Capital of Culture platform.

The underlying technology stack is a multi-portal web architecture rather than a single product. The publicly visible technology ecosystem promoted by LIAA includes Latvia's national eID and Mobile ID, the eParaksts digital signature system, the Mana Balss digital democracy platform, and ecosystem partners such as MikroTik (networking), Tilde (language AI/machine translation), and 10,000+ ICT companies generating approximately $1.4 billion in IT exports. Distribution is handled through official websites, social media, monthly newsletters, and international conferences. There is no public API, no SDK, and no commercial product module — the entity is an informational and promotional gateway rather than a software product.

LIAA's revenue model is non-commercial: it is funded through the Latvian state budget rather than pricing of products or services. All promotion content is freely available, and there are no disclosed fees, subscriptions, or transaction-based revenue streams. The target customer segments are international investors (primary), international tourists (primary), international students (primary), and the approximately 370,000-member Latvian diaspora (secondary). Select enterprise logos referenced in promotion materials include MikroTik, Mintos, SAF Tehnika, Latvijas Finieris, Naco Technologies, Aerones, Light Guide Optics International, GroGlass, MADARA Cosmetics, and Cellbox Labs; these are not paying customers but rather showcased national ecosystem exemplars.

Name

Latvian Institute

Legal name

Investment and Development Agency of Latvia

Website

https://latvia.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Latvian Institute (LIAA) is a Latvian government agency that promotes the country internationally as a destination for investment, tourism, higher education, and diaspora engagement through the latvia.eu portal and affiliated vertical websites, conferences, and partnership programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Promotion Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541990)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Tourism Trade & Services Exports Development (BPADAMAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance (BPAHAFAN), Study Abroad Provider Networks, Consortia & Membership Organizations (EDAIAAAK), Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Country brand promotion
• Investment facilitation services
• Inbound tourism marketing
• International student recruitment
• Diaspora engagement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Riga

HQ country

Latvia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investment Promotion: Promoting Latvia as an investment destination through the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), attracting foreign direct investment into Latvian companies and sectors
2. Tourism Promotion: Promoting Latvia as a tourism destination through latvia.travel portal and marketing campaigns

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Latvian Institute operates as the state-affiliated national brand coordinator, running a network of country-promotion portals (latvia.eu, latvia.travel, investinlatvia.org, studyinlatvia.lv) and flagship events such as the Deep Tech Atelier. It delivers marketing, content, and stakeholder-programming services aimed at positioning Latvia internationally across investment, tourism, education, ICT, diaspora, and culture.

Product overview

Latvia.eu is the official government information portal of Latvia, operated by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA). It serves as a comprehensive resource for information about Latvia's culture, business opportunities, tourism, research, and national initiatives. The portal aggregates content across multiple thematic areas including arts & culture, business & innovation, life & society, and Mission Latvia. It is not a technology product with modules or commercial offerings, but rather an informational gateway showcasing Latvia's national assets, smart sectors, and institutional ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Deep Tech Atelier: A free-to-attend conference founded by LIAA in 2018, gathering brightest minds from the Baltic Sea region and beyond to celebrate science, tech, and talent. Grew from 495 participants in 2018 to over 1500 participants in 2024 representing 53 countries.

Products and services

• Latvia national brand portal (latvia.eu) Central national brand portal coordinating Latvia's international image across investment, tourism, education, culture, and sustainability verticals. Targets foreign investors, travelers, students, media, and diaspora audiences.
• Travel Latvia portal (latvia.travel) Tourism marketing portal promoting Latvia as a destination for international leisure and business travelers, providing destination content, seasonal offerings, and travel inspiration.
• Study in Latvia portal (studyinlatvia.lv) Higher-education recruitment portal promoting Latvian universities and English-language programs to international students, parents, and education partners.
• Invest in Latvia investment portal (investinlatvia.org) Investment promotion portal providing foreign investors with sector information, incentives, and contact pathways for evaluating Latvia as a business location.
• Deep Tech Atelier conference Flagship deep-tech ecosystem event convening startups, investors, research institutions, and corporate innovation teams to showcase deep-tech ventures and facilitate partnerships in the Baltic/Nordic region.

Quantifiable outcome

• 43% of Latvia's energy consumption comes from renewable sources (2023)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• ELWIND (Estonia-Latvia Offshore Wind)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2030Joint Estonia-Latvia cross-border offshore wind project in Kurzeme, strengthening energy independence and contributing to EU Green Deal goals
• Rail Baltica PartnersflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026EU-wide railway network connecting Helsinki, Tallinn, Parnu, Riga, Panevezys, Kaunas, Vilnius, Warsaw through 5 EU countries (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, indirectly Finland)
• Smart Country ConventionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2024Latvia was the official partner country of Smart Country Convention 2024 at Messe Berlin, presenting advanced digital solutions for administrations, public enterprises, and digitization of cities
• European Space AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Latvian innovations have contributed to ESA missions, demonstrating country's deep tech capabilities in space technology
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Latvia's innovative companies and NGOs actively engaged in furthering UN SDGs across European Eastern Partnership countries, Central Asia, and Africa
• African Nations PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ESI.LV conducts training programs for female entrepreneurs in Namibia (120+ entrepreneurs), concludes Latvia-Africa projects benefiting African entrepreneurs, with mentorship from 50+ international mentors
• Connected Afrika SummitflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024ESI.LV's 'She Rebuilds the World' initiative introduced at international summits including Connected Afrika Summit in Kenya, reaching global audience
• US National Renewable Energy LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Latvenergo partnered with US NREL to develop energy transformation strategy for Latvia's 2050 zero-emission goals
• KBR and GI TerminalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024MoU signed between KBR and GI Terminal for sustainable aviation fuel production from CO2 and hydrogen
• Harvard University (PMNET Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Precision medicine forum at National Library of Latvia with 50+ global experts including Harvard, focusing on personalized healthcare
• Fokker Next Gen LatviacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hydrogen engine technology development for aviation in Liepaja, enabling 2500km zero-emission flights
• ESI.LV (Economic Cooperation and Investment for Latvia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Connects Latvian entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, and scientists worldwide, promoting collaboration and knowledge transfer, supporting regional and national growth
• Riga TechGirls International PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnerships with organizations in Uzbekistan (Tech4Impact), Lithuania (Women Go Tech), Cameroon, and South Africa for STEM education and digital literacy programs
• Quantum Latvia Initiative PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Quantum initiative bringing together Latvia's leading quantum scientists and educators to develop knowledge, skills, and technologies in quantum physics commercialization
• Semiconductor MOU Partners (12 organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 202212 partners signed MoU at 5G Techritory event to establish semiconductor ecosystem in Latvia, creating microchip design center
• Riga Technical UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Academic partner for Deep Tech Atelier conference, helping ensure program relevance for industry participants through commercialization Reactor and other innovation initiatives
• Commercialization ReactorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Innovation partner for Deep Tech Atelier, connecting academia and industry for technology commercialization

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CzechInvest: Czech Republic's national investment promotion agency, established in 1992 and operating across FDI lead generation, startup support, and sector-specific promotion. Comparable in mandate and central-European positioning even though it serves a much larger economy than Latvia.
• Business Finland: Finnish government's innovation funding and FDI/export promotion organization. Comparable as a state-backed agency running investment promotion, growth-company programs, and country marketing with strong cleantech/digital sector narratives — overlapping with LIAA's smart-sectors positioning.
• AICEP Portugal Global: Portugal's state-owned trade and investment agency focused on FDI attraction, export promotion, and brand marketing. Comparable as a smaller-EU IPA in a structurally similar position (smaller economy, leveraged EU membership story, emphasis on talent/sector specialization).
• Enterprise Estonia / Invest Estonia: Estonia's national investment promotion and development agency operating from Tallinn. Directly comparable as a fellow Baltic IPA responsible for FDI attraction, startup promotion, and country-brand marketing targeting the same Northern European investor base.
• Invest Lithuania: Lithuania's official FDI agency, headquartered in Vilnius. Mirrors LIAA's remit of attracting foreign investment into priority smart sectors, promoting startups, and supporting Lithuanian exporters — and competes for many of the same cross-border investment mandates.
• Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH): Poland's official investment and trade promotion agency, supporting FDI inflows, exporter development, and country branding. Functions with similar instruments — portals, event series, sector lead generation — and competes in several of the same investor pipelines as Latvia.
• Business Sweden: Swedish government's trade and investment promotion body jointly owned by the state and the Swedish business community. Comparable mandate — government-aligned FDI and export promotion with a strong digital/innovation narrative — even though Sweden's brand scale and resources are larger.

Broad incumbents

• UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT): UK's ministerial department leading trade policy, export support, and investment promotion through its Foreign Direct Investment unit. A government-state peer in the IPA archetype operating with materially larger resources; useful as an upper-bound comparison for the operating model LIAA is running at a smaller scale.
• Invest in Italy (Invitalia): Italy's national agency for inward investment and enterprise development, managing state incentives, FDI attraction, and sectoral programs. A larger-scale incumbent IPA operating comparable instruments (incentives, lead generation, country-brand campaigns), but with substantially broader mandate and resources than LIAA.
• Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI): Germany's federal economic-development and inward-investment agency. A larger incumbent IPA with broader capabilities and budget, but a reference point for what a mature EU IPA operating model looks like — including cross-sector FDI research and event programming that Latvia aspires to at smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LatviaEU
• Instagraminstagram.com/latviatravel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/latvian-institute
• Xtwitter.com/Latvia_EU
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnHjjSU7g1klLEnyWjNRLQA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Latvian Institute