European Commissioner to Bolster Baltic Startup Ecosystem During Riga Visit
Ekaterina Zaharieva, the European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, will visit Riga, Latvia, on March 26 to participate in the Baltic Startup Policy Forum and discuss strengthening the region’s startup ecosystem. This marks Commissioner Zaharieva’s first official visit to Latvia as reported by Labs of Latvia.
Forum to Focus on Policy and Innovation
The Baltic Startup Policy Forum, hosted by the Latvian Startup Association Startin.LV at Rīgas Tehniskā universitāte (Riga Technical University), will bring together policymakers and ecosystem leaders from across the Baltic states. Latvia will be represented by Minister of Economics Viktors Valainis, Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braze and leadership from Startin.LV according to Invest in Latvia.
The forum aims to advance evidence-based, startup-friendly policies and amplify the Baltic region’s voice within the European Union. Discussions will center on cultivating the next generation of unicorns and commercializing deeptech innovations.
Baltic Region as a European Innovation Hub
“Latvia is one of Europe’s most dynamic innovation hubs,” stated Commissioner Zaharieva as cited by Invest in Latvia. “Events like TechChill and the Baltic Startup Policy Forum are vital platforms for ensuring that our continent remains at the forefront of technological progress and global competitiveness.”
Roberts Alhimionoks, Director of Startin.LV, emphasized the importance of Baltic participation in European startup policy discussions, stating, “The Forum in Riga will create an opportunity for policymakers and ecosystem representatives to collaboratively define priorities, learn from each other, and strengthen our region’s voice in Europe.”
EU Support for Startups
The Baltics have consistently ranked highly in European startup policy rankings and receive a disproportionately large share of EU funding . The visit comes as the European Commission, under President Ursula von der Leyen, is developing initiatives to support startups, including a potential “28th regime” to simplify regulations for startups operating across the EU as noted by researchLatvia.
Strategic Importance of the Baltics
Commissioner Zaharieva will also meet with Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže to discuss the Baltics’ strategic role in European autonomy, particularly in the context of global competition in areas like microchip and quantum technology .
About TechChill
The Baltic Startup Policy Forum will be held in conjunction with TechChill, a non-profit organization that hosts the largest tech event in Latvia. TechChill 2026, taking place from March 25-27, will feature 100 international speakers and 2300 attendees, including startups, investors, and tech experts . More information can be found at http://techchill.co.