"Business Laboratory 2025" took place from February to May, offering participants the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills and explore new business ideas. Award-winning participants share their experiences—1st place winner Ketija Grēta Sabule with her frozen bread export idea “rāms” (Cēsis district); 2nd place winners Edgars Kristiāns Prokofjevs and Mārtiņš Plaudis, planning to open a woodworking co-creation workshop “Viss kokā” (Cēsis district); and 3rd place winner Liene Reimane with her handmade jewelry idea “KišMiš” (Smiltene district).

KETIJA GRĒTA SABULE

Why did you apply?
I applied because I believe you can learn something from any project and gain experience. I especially applied to this one because I’m in the very early stages of entrepreneurship, which means I need all the support I can get—outside perspectives and the experience of others—to help me choose the best path for myself and my business. I also liked the idea that there would be other young or aspiring entrepreneurs, and maybe I’d find a partner or ally to continue the journey with.

What did you gain?
I gained the confidence that nothing in life has to stay the way it is. Regarding my business—I realized it has room to grow, to evolve, to follow new paths, even multiple ones. I also gained the understanding that entrepreneurship and decision-making aren’t life-or-death matters—it’s just about making decisions and moving forward, adapting, changing, fearing, and daring.

Describe Business Lab in three words:
Opportunity. Progress. Creativity.

Which workshop was the most useful to you, and why?
The financial workshop in Smiltene helped me the most. I had the chance to analyze the financial calculations for my business idea with my group members. This group work showed me that what seemed complicated and detail-heavy to me was actually measurable—if approached correctly and from the right angle. I also appreciated how engaged my peers were, offering thoughtful questions and comments that broadened my view and enriched my understanding of the business.

Follow Ketija’s business journey: @rams_ceptuve

LIENE REIMANE

Why did you apply?
I applied to “Business Lab 2025” because I had no knowledge about entrepreneurship or developing a business. I had never tried creating a business of my own before.

What did you gain?
I received valuable advice, useful information, and insights from experienced mentors regarding my idea.

Describe Business Lab in three words:
New knowledge, useful advice, constructive criticism.

Which workshop was the most useful to you, and why?
I really liked the session with the mentors—it was a great opportunity to present my idea and hear their opinions and suggestions.

Follow Liene’s business journey: @lienes_kismis

EDGARS KRISTIĀNS PROKOFJEVS & MĀRTIŅŠ PLAUDIS

Why did you apply?
A friend recommended the event after seeing a Facebook post about it. I had some prior experience in entrepreneurship through a student company project. We both have a strong desire to create something of our own and be the decision-makers. Our main goal was to start and grow a business.

What did you gain?
We gained confidence in our idea, which emerged during the second B-Lab session—creating a woodworking workshop (Viss Kokā) as a community space for hosting masterclasses. We made new contacts and partners, further developed our communication and presentation skills, and spent our Wednesday evenings meaningfully.

Describe Business Lab in three words:
Inspiring. Educational. Valuable.

Which workshop was the most useful to you, and why?
The second in-person session at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences was the most valuable for us because that’s when our woodworking workshop idea was born and clearly defined.

Follow Edgars and Mārtiņš’s business journey: @viss.koka

Business Lab 2025 was organized by Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with the municipalities of Limbaži, Smiltene, and Cēsis, as part of the international project “Accelerate Future HEI.”

Following two successful semesters of language courses, E³UDRES² is expanding its offering with a new round of opportunities to upgrade one's linguistic skills - now also including Albanian and Ukrainian.

Starting in the autumn/winter term of 2025, language and culture courses in Dutch, Latvian, Portuguese, German, Hungarian, English, as well as Albanian and Ukrainian, will be available to students and staff from all E³UDRES² partners and associated universities.

Most of the courses are designed at the CEFR A1 level, focusing on beginner proficiency to ensure accessibility for all participants.

This initiative comes from the E³UDRES² Capacity Building team and aims to strengthen multilingualism and intercultural understanding within the Alliance.  

For questions or requests, please contact Katrīne Kūkoja (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

More information: eudres.eu/news/eudres-online-language-courses-for-students-and-staff

To enhance and develop achievements in science and research, several changes have been made at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA). Two existing scientific institutes have been merged to form the Scientific Institute of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViAZI). A new Scientific Council has also been elected. The merger of the two ViA scientific institutes – the Institute of Social, Economic and Humanities Research (HESPI) and the Institute of Sociotechnical Systems Engineering (SSII) – took place in April.

“We have decided to merge the two institutes to more effectively achieve ViA’s scientific goals, utilize scientific potential, foster broader interdisciplinarity, and move towards scientific excellence,” says ViA Rector, Ph.D. Agnese Dāvidsone.

On April 22, The Scientific Council of the ViA Scientific Institute (ViAZI) was elected at the general meeting of scientists of the university including the following researchers: Dr.sc.ing. Arnis Cīrulis, Ph.D. Oskars Java, Dr.hist. Gatis Krūmiņš, Dr.sc.ing. Linda Lancere, Dr.sc.ing. Kaspars Osis, Dr.psych. Vineta Silkāne, Ph. Linda Veliverronena, and Ph.D. Ieva Zaumane. The Council is responsible for ensuring the strategic direction of the institute, determining priority research areas, approving the director, overseeing their work, and more. Dr.psych. Vineta Silkāne has been elected Chair of the ViAZI Scientific Council.

"The Scientific Council acts as the intellectual compass of the institute – it not only defines research priorities but also shapes an environment where every researcher can develop their academic path with respect and a long-term perspective. We believe that scientific excellence arises from taking care of people – supporting their scientific independence, collaboration, and inner drive to explore,” says leading researcher and associate professor Vineta Silkāne.

On June 16, Professor and leading researcher Dr.geogr. Andris Klepers was elected as Director of the newly established Scientific Institute at ViA. He will assume the role at the end of August.

Dr. Klepers earned his Ph.D. at the University of Latvia, researching tourism destination marketing and cluster strategies. He has also acquired additional expertise in tourism and regional development through studies in Germany and several Nordic countries. He enhanced his research skills through postdoctoral research and academic qualification-building in Sweden, Australia, and Iceland. He regularly publishes scientific articles, presents research at international conferences, and participates in organizing them.

Dr. Klepers has worked at HESPI since 2015 – initially as a researcher, and since 2021 as a leading researcher. He is an active member of the HESPI Scientific Council and leads the spatial research laboratory.

“By applying my diverse experience and openness to dialogue, I see an opportunity to more purposefully implement ViA’s development strategy and strengthen the value of our organization’s brand. I fully commit to fostering an international, interdisciplinary, excellence-oriented, sustainable, and collegial research environment grounded in mutual respect,” said A.Klepers after his election.

The purpose of ViAZI’s establishment is to conduct scientific research, ensure the functioning of the Doctoral School, participate in the implementation of study programs, and provide public services in the fields, subfields, and interdisciplinary areas of engineering and technology, social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences.

From June 4 to 6, a workshop organized by the E³UDRES² alliance took place at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, titled “Strategies to Improve the E³UDRES² Alliance’s Success Rate in Securing Research Project Funding.” Over several days, researchers, doctoral students, and research administrators had the opportunity to gain experience and knowledge in preparing project proposals.

The event brought together participants from Latvia, Albania, Austria, Portugal, Romania, and Ukraine, who visited various laboratories and the Open Innovation Centre at Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences. They also learned about current research project calls from experts of the Latvian Science Council.

Participants included doctoral students and researchers from Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, as well as academic staff from St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences (Austria) (STPAUS), Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (Portugal) (IPS), Politehnica University of Timișoara (Romania) (UPT), the associated partner university in Shkodër, Albania, and representatives from Latvian scientific institutions – Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VeA) and Riga Technical University (RTU).

"Considering that all participants, except RTU, represent universities of applied sciences, it was only natural that the most relevant discussion topics focused on how to demonstrate the impact of research project results and how to use a 'bottom-up' approach in defining research problems, creating scientific groups, and establishing strategic partnerships with industry partners,” explains workshop organizer and lead researcher Ph.D. Oskars Java.

The result of the three-day workshop will be a handbook developed by the E³UDRES² European University Alliance working group on “Strategies to Improve the E³UDRES² Alliance’s Success Rate in Securing Research Project Funding.” The handbook aims to facilitate the involvement of doctoral students and early-career researchers in research, while also allowing experienced researchers to learn from the insights and experiences of their colleagues.