How can we encourage students not only to acquire knowledge in lecture halls, but also to start thinking like researchers, innovators or future entrepreneurs? How can we create an environment where young people are not afraid to experiment, make mistakes and develop their ideas? These are questions that Elizabete Universa, Head of the Student Business Incubator at the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) and Project Manager of the Student Innovation Grants Programme, considers in her daily work. She is currently pursuing a PhD herself and knows the academic environment well from a student’s perspective. In her view, the starting point for innovation at a university is often not simply funding or infrastructure, but the moment when a young person begins to believe in their idea and enters an environment capable of helping that potential grow.
Elizabete works with students, mentors and industry partners, helping new ideas develop into real projects and prototypes, while continuing her own academic journey. She holds a bachelor’s degree in healthcare from Rīga Stradiņš University and later obtained a master’s degree in nutrition science through a joint study programme implemented by the University of Latvia, Rīga Stradiņš University and LBTU. She is currently pursuing doctoral studies.
She says that her family taught her the importance of continuously learning, developing and not being afraid of hard work. This is also why her work with students and innovation naturally aligns with her own values: to grow and achieve results, a person needs to stay active, seek new opportunities and continuously develop.
“Science disciplines the way we think and gives our thinking greater depth. It teaches us to analyse, recognise patterns and look beyond the surface,” says Elizabete. In her view, science helps young people think more broadly, ask questions and not stop at the first answer. She compares her professional work in the innovation environment to composing a symphony – people, ideas, emotions, science and entrepreneurship all have to be brought together in a common rhythm so that many different elements can form a harmonious and meaningful result.
The Student Innovation Grants Programme and the LBTU Student Business Incubator create an ecosystem where young people can develop their ideas from an initial concept into practical solutions. The programme involves both students and doctoral candidates, while some activities are also open to school students. It covers a wide range of fields, from bioeconomy and biomedicine to information technology, smart technologies and sustainable development. The Student Innovation Grants Programme offers both small grants of up to €2,200 and large grants of up to €9,200.
Elizabete emphasises that many students arrive at the incubator at a very early stage of developing their idea, often without a ready-made business plan or even a team. That is why the incubator’s role is not only to provide practical resources, but also to help young people develop their thinking, work as a team, present their ideas and recognise their potential. Students have access to innovation and entrepreneurship training, mentoring, cooperation with industry partners and grants to develop their ideas.
“Often, the most important transformation does not happen in the project itself, but in the person. The greatest satisfaction comes from seeing students who initially doubted themselves or their idea confidently presenting prototypes at the end of the programme, explaining and defending their solutions and inspiring others,” says Elizabete.
If a student does not yet have their own business idea, the incubator’s Idea Bank can also help. Entrepreneurs and industry representatives contribute practical challenges, inviting students to develop new solutions to real industry problems, such as more efficient work processes, digital tools or more sustainable products. This gives students an opportunity to work with genuine industry needs while developing their innovation and entrepreneurial skills.
The first cycle of the LBTU Student Innovation Grants Programme recently came to an end. Its culmination was “Demo Day 2026”, where 14 student teams presented their prototypes, innovative solutions and entrepreneurial skills developed during the programme. Students presented ideas in a range of fields, from sports technologies and the digitalisation of veterinary medicine to sustainable food and bioeconomy solutions.
Among the highest-rated teams were “R.A.J.A. Prime”, which developed a prototype real-time athlete tracking system to improve safety and visualisation at sporting competitions; “TE-D Nature Lab”, with a sustainable drink tablet made from Baltic plants and berries; and “VetVeseliba.lv”, which created a centralised digital platform bringing together data from veterinary clinics, laboratories and pharmacies.
Elizabete believes that events like these often provide students with their first serious experience in the world of innovation and entrepreneurship – an opportunity not only to present their ideas to an audience, but also to meet industry representatives, entrepreneurs, investors and potential partners. She notes that this helps students understand much more clearly how ideas developed in an academic environment can be transformed into practical solutions with real-world applications.
For some teams, participating in Demo Day also became the next step into the wider innovation ecosystem, as the winners were given an opportunity to present their ideas at the “Deep Tech Atelier 2026” conference, where their solutions could be seen by investors, entrepreneurs and representatives of other higher education institutions.
Elizabete is convinced that Latvia has no shortage of talented and entrepreneurial young people. What matters most, however, is creating an environment where they dare to experiment, develop their ideas and find their own direction. She believes that the Student Innovation Grants Programme and the LBTU Student Business Incubator are currently creating exactly such an environment for future innovators and therefore encourages young people to get involved – even if they initially have only an interest or an idea that has not yet been fully formed.
“Every significant journey begins with the first step – even before the entire horizon is visible,” she says, encouraging young people to take that first step.
The Student Innovation Grants Programme continues, and applications are now open for the next cycle! If you have an idea, an interest in innovation or simply a desire to try something new, now is the right time to start. Take part in events, workshops and other activities, meet people who share your enthusiasm and develop your idea from concept to implementation. Perhaps your idea will be the next one to make the journey from a sketch and a conversation to the Demo Day stage. Take the first step – the rest can follow!
Student Innovation Grants Programme – information on EU fund support
This story was produced with support from EU funds.
