The Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) welcomes Latvia’s Federation of Security and Defence Industries (FSDI), amplifying Europe’s defence voice with Baltic perspectives. Strengthening cross-border collaboration and resilience in European security and industry.
Registration is now open for the upcoming ESA Briefing, which will present the next Requesting Party Activities (RPA) call — including its structure, funding opportunities, and how Latvian companies and research institutions can get involved.
ECSECO Spring School, organized by the European Centre for Space Economy and Commerce (ECSECO), is happening for the very first time in Riga, Latvia! Set to take place on May 14th, this exclusive event is a side event to the Baltic’s premier deep tech gathering — Deep Tech Atelier (May 15–16), and will be hosted at the Riga Technical University (RTU).
On April 15, an informational seminar was held at the Ministry of Education and Science for representatives of the Latvian space industry regarding the European Space Agency (ESA) GSTP Optional Program.
12 April 1961 was the date of the first human space flight, carried out by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet citizen. This historic event opened the way for space exploration for the benefit of all humanity.
Europe’s space industry gathered at the European Space Agency (ESA) in the Netherlands on 3–4 April to gain insights into the future of space in Europe. Also Latvia delegation participated in the event.
On April 15, an informational seminar will be held at the Ministry of Education and Science for representatives of the Latvian space industry regarding the European Space Agency (ESA) GSTP Optional Program. There are no free places left for the one-on-one meetings, but it is possible to register for the seminar until 10th April.
NRG Solutions, a space technology company, has been accepted into the European Space Agency's Business Incubation Centre in Latvia "ESA BIC Latvia" support programme. This is the first company to be admitted to the incubation programme, which is expected to support at least 12 start-ups over a five-year period.
On April 10, from 10:00 to 17:00, Riga Technical University’s (RTU) Science and Innovation Centre will host the second Innovation Ecosystem Summit, «Innovate360°».
On March 19, during an official visit to India by Latvia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braze, a high-level meeting was held with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Latvia’s space industry was represented by the Latvian Space Industry Association (LAIK), with Mihails Ščepanskis, CEO of Deep Space Energy, and Pavels Razmajevs from Eventech.
From 25 to 27 March 2025, Riga, Latvia, hosted the 8th meeting of the Expert Group on Integrated Global Accounts. The first day of the meeting was dedicated to a workshop on the space economy thematic account, where delegates from the European Statistical System (ESS) and National Space agencies gathered to discuss the rapidly evolving space sector.
Today, on 26 March, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia, the Ministry of Economics, and the State Space Agency of Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in research and peaceful use of space.
The European Space Agency has published its strategy approaching challenges and opportunities up to 2040. Strategy 2040 is framed around five encompassing goals, each of which has specific objectives assigned.
The EU Space Days is the most significant event of the European Union when it comes to space policy, business and innovation. Organised by the European Commission under the auspices of the Polish Presidency, this year’s edition lands in Gdańsk, a thriving hub for space. Adding to the city’s space credentials, Gdańsk is also home to the Polish Space Agency (POLSA).
On 15 and 16 May, Riga will host the Deep Tech Atelier 2025 conference, the largest science-intensive industry event in the Baltics. The event will bring together more than 1500 scientists, technology experts, entrepreneurs, investors, as well as representatives of public administration and public organisations with the aim of establishing new collaborations and promoting business development in knowledge-intensive industries.
From 11th to 13th March, the Steering Committee (STC) and Coordination Committee (COOC) of the European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking (EU SST) Partnership convened for their regular meeting at the Academic Centre of the University of Latvia in Riga.
The Big Data from Space (BiDS) 2025 conference will be held from 29th September to 3rd October in Riga, Latvia, marking the seventh edition of this globally recognized event. The official call for papers and satellite events is now open, and interested participants will find all the latest updates on the conference website at https://www.bigdatafromspace2025.org.
Latvian space technology start-ups can apply for the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre "ESA BIC Latvia" incubation programme. The programme will support 12 start-ups over the next five years with €60,000 each in funding, mentoring, advice and other support.
On March 6, 2025, Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket successfully launched for the second time from French Guiana, delivering the CSO-3 satellite into orbit. This milestone marks the first commercial flight of the Ariane 6 (Flight VA263), with all phases of the mission executing flawlessly, including the reignition of the Auxiliary Propulsion Unit (APU) and the third boost of the Vinci engine.
On 3-4 April 2025, ESA is organising an information event for industry dedicated to the upcoming ESA Council at Ministerial Level in November.
On February 28, 2025, the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) held a ceremony to recognize scientists and research groups whose work was among the twelve most significant scientific achievements in 2024. One of the achievements was Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry applied research "European launcher Ariane-6 first flight with cryogenic insulation material developed in Latvia".
This is a significant opportunity for national and regional stakeholders to influence the future of space policy and EU funding. With consultations now open, stakeholders are invited to shape the direction of European space initiatives, ensuring that investments and policies align with the evolving needs of both local and global communities.
Nearly 14 million euros will be available to support innovation for students, and new projects can be launched by the end of the year. Meanwhile, in the previous grant program, students of Riga Technical University (RTU) began developing technologies for rocket launches, and the team continues the work with the support of a company.
As part of the EO-BALP project, Baltic Satellite Service and Lithuanian, Estonian, and Latvian partners have created various apps available on the GEOHUB platform, including Forest Monitoring Service. This application allows users to access satellite data to monitor clear-cut and forest health risks.
On February 6th, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and Minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša visited the Engineering Research Institute Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (ERI VIRAC) of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS), to discuss Latvia's technological opportunities. Following their visit to ERI VIRAC, the Prime Minister and Minister A. Čakša emphasized the importance of the infrastructure in Irbene at both national and international levels.
The first Tender Evaluation Board (TEB) for Space startups is officially closed. The team of experts consisted of ESA BIC Latvia Manager Lev Lapkis, ESA BIC Commercialisation Officer Maud Moullec, and Head of the Latvian delegation to ESA Kaspars Karolis with the help of local Space economy experts from RTU Science and Innovation Centre,the Institute of Aeronautics of RTU FMETA and Institute for Environmental Solutions.
On 3rd February, Dr Lana Frančeska Dreimane, the director of the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation at the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia, delivered a speech at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) 62nd Session of the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee (STSC), which took place in Vienna, Austria.
The Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025 is currently in its advanced draft stage. The timescale from publication in the spring to proposal submission in September will be quite short. To foster collaboration, EMMC is organising a brokerage event to provide its organisational members with an opportunity to present their expertise in relation to anticipated call topics.
The 2025 ESA Graduate Trainee opportunities are now open! If you’re passionate about engineering, science, IT or business, this is your chance to turn your dreams into reality. This opportunity is open also to graduates from Latvia because Latvia is an ESA Associate Member state.
INNOspace Masters promotes ideas for the transfer of technology and expertise from other industries to the space sector (spin-ins/New Space) or from space to non-space sectors (spin-offs). The overall theme for the 2025 round of the competition is: Energise Our Future – Cross-Industry Innovations Linking Earth and Space. Submission is open until 24 March 2025.
