Northern Europe’s leading science-based technology conference, “Deep Tech Atelier 2026”, concluded in Riga on 14–15 May, bringing together more than 2,300 participants from 69 countries and further strengthening Latvia’s position as a regional deep tech and innovation hub in the Baltics and Northern Europe.
Organised by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), this year’s conference focused on artificial intelligence, data technologies, defence innovation, medical technologies, robotics, space technologies and secure digital systems, highlighting the importance of these sectors for Europe’s competitiveness, security and economic development.
Ieva Jāgere, Director of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), emphasized:
“This conference demonstrates that Latvia is becoming an important meeting place for the Baltic and Nordic deep tech community — a place where talent, science, entrepreneurship and global ambition come together. Courage, knowledge and perseverance are what shape the next generation of technology companies.”
Over two days, 150 international experts, investors and industry leaders spoke across the conference’s three stages — “Deep Tech”, “Deep Frontier” and “Growth”. The programme addressed technology development, regulation and practical innovation deployment in healthcare, defence, artificial intelligence, space and emerging technologies. The event also featured investor meetings, workshops, startup pitches, technology demonstrations and networking activities.
One of the conference highlights was the “Startup Pitch Competition”, which attracted 77 startups from 15 countries working in artificial intelligence, medical technologies, defence technologies, biotechnology, robotics and sustainable industrial solutions.
The category winners were:
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“Naco Technologies” (Latvia) — nanotechnology coatings for green energy systems,
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“Asvel” (Estonia) — digital solutions for personalised healthcare,
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“PowerUP Energy Technologies” (Estonia) — hydrogen energy solutions for defence and industrial applications,
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“Diawiser” (Lithuania) — AI solutions for medical data analytics.
Special awards from international innovation partners were also presented to startups from Latvia, Estonia, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland.
Daren Wilson, Founder and CEO of the Swiss health technology innovation platform “HealthSeed AG”, noted:
“Deep Tech Atelier is becoming one of Europe’s leading platforms where innovators in health tech, medical technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnology come together.”
Aleksandrs Parfinovičs, Co-founder and CEO of Latvian startup “Naco Technologies”, added:
“Deep Tech Atelier 2026 was an extremely valuable event for us both from a business development and ecosystem perspective.”
The aim of “Deep Tech Atelier 2026”, organised by LIAA, is to support the transformation of science-based innovations into globally competitive companies, facilitate foreign investment attraction and strengthen cooperation between research, business and the public sector.
More information about the conference: https://deeptechatelier.com/
Photo galleries available: Deep Tech Atelier 2026 I and Deep Tech Atelier 2026 II
