Please note that the English version of this text has been prepared with the assistance of AI, and in some instances, it may not have been subsequently reviewed or edited by the authors.
In mid-June, more than 20 “BioPhoT” innovation platform teams participated for the first time in one of the world's most important deep technology events as a unified Latvian delegation – Hello Tomorrow Global Summit In Amsterdam. Participation in the forum allowed Latvian researchers to strengthen their international visibility and establish direct contacts with investors, accelerating the entry of innovations into the international market.
“BioPhoT” Innovation Project Selection, Implementation, Monitoring, and Sustainability Manager Andris Baumanis emphasizes that participation in such a high-level event is much more than just showcasing projects. It is an opportunity to test Latvia's innovation competitiveness on a global scale, establish direct contacts with investors and industry leaders, and accelerate the path of scientific developments to the market. “The ability of Latvian teams to attract international attention confirms that the developed solutions can compete with the world's strongest deep tech projects, while simultaneously demonstrating to investors and policymakers the potential of science and innovation investment for economic growth,” he concludes.
The significance of such international innovation forums is increasingly evident as a team effort between researchers, business developers, and mentors who jointly build a bridge between science and the market. Participation in internationally significant events shows that the commercialization of research results is no longer just a laboratory task – it requires active business development engagement, support from experienced mentors, and the ability to navigate the international investment environment. It is precisely close team cooperation that allows researchers' ideas to transform into structured, investor-understandable, and market-viable solutions, states Baumanis.
Latvia University of Technology and Innovation Transfer Lead Expert Jurijs Jastržembskis indicates that one of the most important Hello Tomorrow One of the advantages is its international scale: the conference was attended by over 3,000 participants from all over the world. Participation in the forum allows for building relationships not only with investors but also with universities, technology transfer organizations, innovation agencies, and institutions from other countries. Such contacts are a long-term investment that can become a significant support network for the commercialization and international development of research project results in the future. The forum's ability to bring together participants from outside Europe, including from Latin American countries such as Brazil, is particularly significant. This provides Latvian innovation teams with access to entirely new ecosystems and collaboration opportunities that are not available within the usual Baltic and Nordic cooperation circle.
A significant benefit for the researchers was the experience of presenting to an international audience. At the forum, Latvian representatives introduced attendees to their solutions in thematic sessions covering medical technology, biomedicine, and integrated technologies, as well as in the Expo zone. The teams had to be able to clearly articulate the problem they were solving, the value they were creating, and why their specific solution was necessary. This experience provides an opportunity to effectively communicate with investors and potential partners.
Experts emphasize that a key lesson is the need to be proactive at such events. Successful participation does not happen by passively waiting for interested parties at the presentation booth. It requires initiative, the ability to initiate and maintain conversations, approach potential partners, and purposefully use every contact to expand one's network.
Head of Riga Technical University's “BioPhoT” direction, Liene Ivanova emphasizes the importance of research organizations in the development of deep technology innovation. In her opinion, international platforms once again confirm that universities and scientific institutes are the main source of science-intensive innovations. “That is precisely why the “BioPhoT” platform, with its eight national partners and portfolio of 66 projects, is a significant driving force for the development of Latvia's innovation ecosystem, purposefully building a bridge between academic excellence and the global market, helping scientists” ideas become commercializable products," she emphasizes.
An especially valuable gain from the forum was learning about investor and market perspectives. LU Institute of Solid State Physics innovation expert, “BioPhoT” mentor Kaija Kurme-Jansone emphasizes that for many scientists, it was their first real-world experience startup See where ideas are evaluated based on their market potential, not just scientific quality. Teams received direct and open feedback from investors who assessed the projects' scalability, impact, and commercial potential. This enabled researchers to validate their ideas outside the lab and gain crucial insights into the requirements for successful technology commercialization.
The participation in the Dutch innovation ecosystem learning program and European Spin-off Forum at events. LU CFI Commercialization and Innovation Expert Jānis Latvels indicates that visits to Eindhoven innovation centers, universities, and industry organizations clearly demonstrated the advantages of an integrated innovation chain—from academic research to industrial implementation and attracting investment. A particularly significant conclusion is the role of early industry and investor involvement in technology development.
European Spin-off Forum The discussion highlighted a European trend towards increasingly standardized, faster, and more understandable [processes/products] for investors. spin-off business development models. Technology transfer organizations are increasingly becoming active business development partners, rather than just administrative intermediaries.
Researchers also value participation in international innovation forums of this scale as a significant step from the laboratory to the market. As emphasized Kristaps Kļaviņš, Professor at Riga Technical University, actual market need alignment of innovation, direct investor feedback, and the establishment of international contacts are critically important for their further development.
Led by Kļaviņš “SwyCard” project on the “BioPhoT” platform” This year's selection process saw particularly fierce competition. The project is developing a non-invasive, painless diagnostic platform that uses the analysis of children's sweat to detect key clinical biomarkers. It was applied for in January. Hello Tomorrow 2026 Deep Tech Pioneers Challenge, of which 905 projects were selected for participation out of 4800 applications Deep Tech Pioneers Exhibition. Only 105 projects took the opportunity to participate in the forum with a separate stand, including SwyCard.
Participation in the exhibition confirmed the high interest in the project's solution. The project team actively built contacts with investors and companies that have already expressed interest in a potential pilot project implementation, and communication regarding further cooperation is currently ongoing.
Similarly, the “SwyCard” team established contacts with representatives of the international innovation ecosystem, including those from Brazil and Australia, expanding the project's visibility beyond the European market, says Kļaviņš. This experience once again confirms that participation in global innovation forums allows not only for the presentation of technology but also for directly testing its market potential and building international cooperation channels.
Latvia's position in the global deep tech scene is also confirmed by Hello Tomorrow Global Deep Tech Pioneers Radar 2026 Latvia ranks among the world leaders in the number of deep tech startups per capita. As Andris Baumanis emphasizes, the next challenge is to transform this potential into internationally successful companies, investments, and exportable technologies. Therefore, participation in world-class platforms is a strategically important tool for the growth of Latvia's innovation ecosystem and the strengthening of its competitiveness.
For the participation of the unified Latvian deep tech delegation Hello Tomorrow Global Summit 2026 On June 11 and 12, the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA), the Riga Investment and Tourism Agency (RITA), and the “BioPhoT” platform for long-term national research programs. SIA “Skrīveru saldumi” supported the delegation’s participation and treated forum attendees to treats.
