Summary of the Hub meeting in Riga

The event started with a networking breakfast and a tour of the RTU Science & Innovation Centre, followed by a presentation on Latvian agrifood innovation ecosystem. The interactive part of the event was the workshop focused on regional collaboration and financial sustainability, with HUBs' representatives brainstorming ideas for potential joint projects to address existing calls for proposals. After the workshop, the participants got the opportunity to further discuss the ideas during the networking lunch.

The Hub meeting also provided an opportunity for participants to learn more about the Latvian ecosystem by attending the "Deep Tech meets Food" event, a side-event to the startup conference TechChill. The Hubs participated in sessions on investing in foodtech, advancing agrifood through digital innovation, and building a foodtech startup, hosted by EIT Food and EIT Digital. The day ended with a pitching session by preselected startups and a networking dinner.

On the following day, the Hubs had the opportunity to take part in TechChill and get to know the best of the Baltic startup community. The event is one of the biggest startup event in the Baltics, annually bringing together 2300+ attendees, including over 300 of the fastest-growing startups, most innovative corporations, 200 investors active in the region, 100 media representatives and talented tech enthusiasts.Overall, the meeting was a productive and informative experience for all attendees, with a strong focus on developing collaborations and driving innovation in the food industry.