With a reception and closing ceremony, the Norway grants programme ''Green Industry Innovation'' has been officially finalized. The programme, whose goal is to promote green innovations and entrepreneurship, has supported 102 projects developing and implementing environmentally friendly products and tech solutions, for a total amount of over 10 million euros.
At the closing event that was held during the Digital Freedom Festival, the Minister for Economics Arvils Ašeradens, Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) Director Andris Ozols and Norwegian Ambassador in Latvia Steinar Egil Hagen expressed their appreciation for the successful cooperation.
The Minister of Economics of the Republic of Latvia, Deputy Prime Minister Arvils Ašeradens: “Nowadays green tech is not just a fancy slogan but a competitive advantage in market for companies. Every year more and more companies in Latvia realize that getting more efficient usually goes hand in hand with production and environmental footprint.''
The Minister of Economics also noted that a similar green innovation programme should continue in the future: ''The negotiation on Norway grants has reached the final phase, and up till now Norway and Latvia agree that this is the priority number one in business and innovations.''
Norwegian Ambassador to Latvia Steinar Egils Hagen: “Green industry, green business and becoming more sustainable is in all our interests. This programme in Latvia has been a fantastic success. We have supported similar programs in other states in the EU, but I think that the Latvian program has been one of the most successful.''
Hagen also praised the proportion of female entrepreneurs in the Latvian programme: ''My country, Norway, is very gender aware. There are so many female innovators in this country, and that's very, very good.''
Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) Director Andris Ozols: ''[The Green Industry Innovation” programme] has come to an end, and we have implemented about 90% of all the projects. Norwegians have been the most obvious supporters of Latvia with this specific program, I can only praise the country of Norway for its nature to support startups and companies.''
The "Green Industry Innovation" programme was operated and overseen by the Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia, implemented by LIAA in close cooperation with Norwegian state company ''Innovation Norway'' and funded by the Kingdom of Norway.
The programme aims to increase competitiveness of green enterprises and support green innovation and green entrepreneurship. Special support is intended for new innovative environmental technology, product and process development for environmentally friendly and energy efficient material and product creation for buildings and structures, clean transportation, water resource management, waste management, eco design, or improvements on current processes, which contribute to energy efficiency, lower emissions or lesser consumption of resources.
Additional Information:
Inga Tauriņa,
Digital Freedom Festival Press Secretary
Phone: +371 26564629
e-mail: inga@dffestival.com
www.digitalfreedomfestival.com
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About Digital Freedom Festival
The Digital Freedom Festival is a global technology, startup, policy and lifestyle festival, gathering 1300 new technology and startup entrepreneurs, experts, policy makers, investors, journalists and speakers from all over the world in Riga from the 27th to the 28th of November. We encourage discussion amongst all stakeholders on how technologies can truly “make the world a better place”, and to bring the benefits of the digital revolution to every member of society.
The conference is organised by the Digital Freedom Festival team as well as the reputation management company Lejiņa & Šleiers and NGO DFF. The Digital Freedom Festival supporters: Strategic Partner - Lattelecom, Official Bank - Norvik Banka, Pitch Competition Partner - 500 Startups, European Commission, Ministry of Economics of Latvia, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, airBaltic, PINS, Latvia 100 Office, Association of Latvian Commercial Banks, Latvian Business Angel Network (LatBAN), Rockstart Accelerator, Latvian Startup Association, SAMSUNG, Microsoft, NATO StratCOM, Embassy of Israel to Latvia, U.S. Embassy Riga, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Latvia, Slush, Mailigen, Printful, Coffee Pixels, S/B PRO Startup Studio. Media partners: LETA, Diena, Star FM, CoFounder, IR, BerlinBalticNordic.net, LabsofLatvia, The Baltic Times, Dienas Bizness, TVnet.lv and others.
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