Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija

What Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija does

The Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia (Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija, IZM) is the leading state administration institution of the Republic of Latvia responsible for developing and implementing policy across six sectors: education, science, sports, youth, space, and state language. Headquartered at Vaļņu iela 2, Riga, the Ministry coordinates a network of seven wholly-owned subordinate institutions — Izglītības kvalitātes valsts dienests (IKVD, education quality), Jaunatnes starptautisko programmu aģentūra (JAIA, youth programs), Latvijas Zinātnes padome (LZP, research council), Latviešu valodas aģentūra (Latvian Language Agency), Valsts izglītības attīstības aģentūra (VIAA, education development), Valsts izglītības satura centrs (VISC, education content), and Latvijas Sporta muzejs (Sports Museum). It is led by Minister Ilze Indriksone and State Secretary Janis Paiders, operating under the Cabinet of Ministers.

The Ministry operates a portfolio of government information systems serving as the digital backbone of Latvian public education and science administration. Core systems include the State Education Information System (VIIS), the Education Resources Accounting and Monitoring Information System (RUMIS), the Education Quality Monitoring System, the State Examination Information System (accessible via the eksameni.gov.lv portal), and the National Scientific Activity Information System. The eksameni.gov.lv portal allows students to retrieve centralized examination certificates and is integrated with E-klase and Mykoob authentication. Additional platforms include the Research Latvia calendar/exhibition and the Latvia's Diaspora Scientist Database (launched December 2025). Public-facing infrastructure includes the izm.gov.lv website (with Cloudflare CDN and Google Analytics) and Mailerlite-powered newsletters; Power BI dashboards and Google Maps are embedded in the site.

As a state entity, the Ministry is funded entirely by the Latvian state budget and does not charge for core policy and regulatory services. Supplementary funding flows from EU programs (Erasmus+ 2021-2027, European Recovery Fund), the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme (CHF 10.5 million allocated for work-based learning via VIAA, partnership dated 2025-03-19), and EEA/Norway Grants (EUR 67.48 million in the 2009-2014 period). The Ministry maintains strategic partnerships with UNESCO, OECD, the European Space Agency (since 2020), CERN, the European Council, European Schoolnet, WorldSkills International, WorldSkills Europe, the European Commission, the Latvian Council of Science, and the Latvian Academy of Sciences. In 2025, the Ministry launched a National Artificial Intelligence Program in Schools (April 2025), joined the European AI Factories Network (October 2025), and joined the European Open Science Cloud (July 2025).

Name

Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija

Legal name

LR Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija

Website

https://izm.gov.lv

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia is a state administration institution that develops and implements national policy across education, science, sports, youth, space, and state language sectors, operating government IT systems and coordinating seven subordinate agencies serving citizens, students, educators, and researchers throughout Latvia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Education Administration

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (541), All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54199), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADAKAK

Education Systems Strengthening (Policy, Planning, EMIS, Governance)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Education & Skills Development Programs

SECONDARYBPADAEAA

Program & Project Implementation (TA Delivery)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYBPADAEAI

Education Systems & Skills Technical Assistance

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYEDADADAL

International & Comparative Education Policy Organizations

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Policy, Research & Think Tanks

SECONDARYBPAIAAAE

Government Digital Service & eGovernment (Service Delivery, IDs, Portals)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Central/Federal Government Administration

Keywords

• Education policy administration
• Science policy coordination
• Government education information systems
• Public education infrastructure
• Academic research funding

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, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. State Budget Funding: The Ministry operates as a government institution funded entirely by the Latvian state budget. It receives annual allocations from the national budget to fund education, science, sports, youth, space, and state language policies across Latvia.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija is the Latvian government ministry that develops and implements national policy in education, science, sports, youth, space, and state language sectors. It operates the supporting digital information systems (VIIS, RUMIS, State Examination Information System, Education Quality Monitoring System, National Scientific Activity Information System), manages citizen-facing e-services (eksameni.gov.lv, Latvija.lv education records), and administers EU and international funding programs (Erasmus+, EEA/Norway Grants, Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme) through its network of seven subordinate institutions.

Product overview

The Ministry of Education and Science operates a portfolio of government information systems and platforms spanning education management (VIIS, RUMIS, Education Quality Monitoring System, State Examination System), scientific research support (National Scientific Activity Information System, Research Latvia calendar), and specialized sector registries (Sports Base Register). These systems serve as digital infrastructure for Latvia's education, science, sports, youth, space, and state language policy sectors. The ministry also maintains public-facing platforms including the centralized examination certificates portal and diaspora scientist database.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Education Information System (VIIS) State information system for managing nationwide educational data and processes in Latvia, serving schools, municipalities, and the Ministry.
• Education Resources Accounting and Monitoring Information System (RUMIS) Information system for accounting and monitoring of education resources across Latvia, providing resource tracking and reporting for educational institutions.
• National Scientific Activity Information System State information system managing data on scientific activities and research in Latvia, supporting research funding administration and evaluation.
• Sports Base Register State registry of sports facilities and infrastructure in Latvia, providing a centralized database for tracking and managing sports bases.
• Education Quality Monitoring System System for monitoring and assessing quality in the Latvian education sector, supporting data-driven quality assurance policy.
• State Examination Information System State information system managing centralized examination results and certificates, accessible to schools and students via the eksameni.gov.lv portal.
• Centralized Examination Certificates Portal (eksameni.gov.lv) Online portal for students and parents to access centralized examination results and certificates, integrated with E-klase and Mykoob authentication systems.
• Research Latvia (researchLatvia) Annual calendar and traveling exhibition showcasing Latvian scientists and their achievements, featuring video narratives accessible via QR codes and a structured scientist profile platform.
• Latvia's Diaspora Scientist Database Database connecting Latvian researchers living abroad with domestic research institutions for collaboration and professional networking, with structured data on diaspora researchers and their professional contacts.
• National Artificial Intelligence Program in Schools National-scale initiative introducing AI education to schools across Latvia, launched in cooperation with the State Education Development Agency (VIAA).

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves all educational institutions and citizens of Latvia through its 6 policy sectors
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• State Education Development Agency (VIAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2025Partner institution for Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme on vocational education strengthening; co-implementing work-based learning improvements
• Baltic Alliance for Apprenticeships (BAfA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2015Launched during Latvian Presidency of EU Council in 2015; cooperation declaration signed by three Baltic states ministers for VET issues
• Employers Confederation of LatviacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2014Project partner for WBL-Balt project implementing work-based learning in vocational education; involved in Baltic Alliance for Apprenticeships (BAfA) development
• Foundation Innove (Estonia)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2014Baltic cooperation partner in WBL-Balt project for work-based learning implementation in vocational education
• Ministry of Education and Science (Lithuania)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2014Baltic cooperation partner in WBL-Balt project implementing work-based learning in vocational education
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO cooperation including participation in Education, Science and Culture organization activities; cooperation in international education and science policy
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatvia's participation in ESA programs since 2020; cooperation in space technology and research; delegate training hosted in Latvia
• OECDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation in education policy, research funding, and economic development through OECD programs and studies including PIAAC
• European Union (Erasmus+ Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementation of Erasmus+ program (2021-2027) and previous period (2014-2020); European Solidarity Corps; support for higher education, vocational education, adult education, youth exchanges
• European SchoolnetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation in European school network for education policy development and best practices exchange
• European Nuclear Research Organization (CERN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLatvia's participation in CERN research activities and scientific cooperation
• European CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation through Council of Europe on education, science, and youth policy matters
• European Universities InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation in higher education and research policy development
• European Agency for Special and Inclusive EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on inclusive education policy and special education development
• Global Education Network Europe (GENE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network cooperation on global education policy
• WorldSkills InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation membership for vocational skills and competition development
• WorldSkills EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean cooperation on vocational skills competitions and standards
• Latvian Council of SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on research funding, evaluation, and science policy implementation
• Latvian Association of UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation on higher education policy and university development
• Latvian Academy of SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on scientific research coordination and science communication
• Association of Latvian Young ScientistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for young researchers and early career scientists
• National Library of LatviaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on science communication and research publications
• Swiss ConfederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme funding for vocational education improvement; CHF 10.5 million allocated for work-based learning enhancement
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU funding programs including Erasmus+, European Recovery Fund; policy cooperation through EU Council

Scale indicators5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Department of Education and Skills of Ireland: Ireland's education ministry; comparable small EU member-state administrative scale with similar demographic and rural-urban education policy challenges. Functions as a regional peer rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture: Long-established Nordic education ministry with significantly larger scale and budget. Comparable role in coordinating education, science, and culture policy at national level, and a model frequently referenced by Baltic ministries for policy design.
• Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany (BMBF): Germany's federal ministry for education and research with comparable EMIS-adjacent oversight, federal-state coordination, and ESA funding contribution role. Functions as a much larger incumbent in the same policy space.
• Swedish Ministry of Education and Research: Large EU member-state ministry with comparable scope across education and research, including innovation policy and international research cooperation. Functions as a broader incumbent with deeper resources.
• Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic: Czech Republic's ministry combining education, youth and sport - structurally similar multi-sector scope to IZM. Comparable EU member-state scale and EU funds administration role.

Direct peers

• Ministry of Education and Research of Estonia: Estonia's education and research ministry; fellow Baltic state with comparable population scale and education system structure. Active partner in WBL-Balt project and shares similar EMIS-driven digital transformation approach.
• Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of Lithuania: Lithuania's equivalent education ministry with virtually identical scope (education, science, sports) and active Baltic cooperation partner in the WBL-Balt and BAfA initiatives. Direct structural peer across all six comparable policy domains.

Others

• European Commission - DG Education and Culture (DG EAC): EU-level counterpart that administers Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, and the European Education Area. Not a competitor but the principal funding/regulatory counterpart and policy counterpart for IZM's EU-facing programs.
• Latvian Council of Science: Wholly-owned subordinate of the ministry that operationalizes research funding, evaluation, and science policy implementation. Functions as the executing arm rather than a peer but is structurally comparable in mandate.
• OECD Directorate for Education and Skills: International policy counterpart for IZM's OECD engagement (including PIAAC participation). Functions as policy benchmarking partner rather than a competing entity, shaping the standards the ministry aligns to.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IZM_gov_lv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSrK9F_7VM7sSkh-lY2i89A
• Facebookfacebook.com/Izglitibas.ministrija
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/izglitibas-zinatnes-ministrija
• Instagraminstagram.com/izglitibasministrija

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Izglītības un zinātnes ministrija