By 
Latvia’s Investment and Development Agency has opened its autumn intake for the national Business Incubation Programme, giving young companies until 24 September 2026 to apply for a package of financial and practical support.
The call, published on 9 September, is aimed at Latvia-registered micro, small and medium-sized enterprises developing innovative, technological, export-capable or creative-industry products and services. The programme is also open to companies whose products have reached an early but demonstrable stage of development, rather than to ideas that exist only on paper.
For successful applicants, the support combines a grant covering up to 70% of eligible development costs with consultations from experts and mentors, training, networking and access to LIAA co-working facilities around the country. The programme is designed to help firms move from an initial product or service towards stronger market validation, first customers and international sales.
A practical route from prototype to market
The eligibility rules place emphasis on a working product or service. Applicants must have developed at least a minimum viable product, or MVP. For an innovative product, the required technology-readiness threshold is at least TRL4, while export-oriented or more conventional products must meet a minimum business-idea readiness level of BIMRL5.
That distinction is significant for companies working in technology and research-linked fields. It means the programme is positioned not only as an idea-generation scheme, but as a bridge between early development and commercialisation. Companies can use the support to improve a prototype, test demand, refine a business model or prepare for a wider export push.
The programme’s non-financial offer is equally important for small firms that may not yet have dedicated sales, finance or product-development teams. LIAA lists expert and mentor advice, training seminars, peer networking and access to shared workspaces among the available services. The agency’s business-support platform says the programme can also support product development, prototyping, equipment, materials and selected company-development services.
Regional access across Latvia
Applications are being accepted through 20 LIAA regional offices, as well as the agency’s Creative Industries and Technology offices in Riga. The regional network covers locations including Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jūrmala, Kuldīga, Liepāja, Madona, Ogre, Rēzekne, Sigulda, Valmiera and Ventspils, with associated offices serving additional towns.
This geographic structure gives the intake a broader reach than a Riga-only startup scheme. A company based in a smaller municipality can apply through a nearby LIAA representative office and receive guidance on the most appropriate form of support. Creative businesses may apply through the Creative Industries office or their nearest regional office, while innovative companies from Riga can use the Technology office.
LIAA recommends that applicants contact their nearest representative office before submitting a proposal. The agency says this can help businesses understand the conditions, identify the appropriate support and prepare the required documents.
Who can apply
The programme is intended for companies no more than five years old at the time of application. The tax debt limit is set at €1,000 on the application date. The call is therefore focused on relatively young businesses that already have a credible product or service but still need structured assistance to build capacity and reach customers.
Applications opened at 8:30 on 9 September and remain available through the LIAA business platform until 23:59 on 24 September. The support is financed through a programme co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Latvia’s state budget.
For Latvia’s innovation ecosystem, the new intake offers a concrete point of entry for companies seeking to move beyond early experimentation. Its combination of grant support, technical guidance and regional access reflects a practical development model: help firms strengthen what they have already built, then prepare it for customers, investment or export markets.
Comments