The Latvian ICT sector has experienced annual export growth of 30% and a 10% annual increase in the number of ICT companies. Latvia has an excellent ICT infrastructure including 1 Gbps fiber optic speeds, the fastest broadband in Europe. The country has 11 universities that offer IT education programs and produces graduates that win medals in international IT competitions. The Latvian IT Cluster, founded in 2007, works to promote export and internationalization, facilitate cross-industry collaboration through initiatives like The Obvious Selection, and operates the Riga IT Demo Centre to showcase local ICT companies. Through trade missions and events like those held during Latvia's EU presidency, the Cluster helps its member companies gain recognition and pursue opportunities abroad.

2. Latvian ICT sector
ICT Export annual growth 30%
Number of ICT companies growing by ~10% each year
ICT Industry as one of government priorities

3. Excellent ICT environment
Renowned routers, ISP systems and point-to-point microwave data
transmission technologies
1 Gbit/s fiber optic network speed;
fastest broadband in Europe, one of the fastest in the world;
#7 lowest broadband costs in the world
Secure data centers, located 12m underground and featuring TIER3
security
Riga – European WiFi Capital

4. Excellent knowledge and skills
11 universities around all reagions of Latvia have IT education
programms; more colleges and proffesional programs
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Gold medals in International IT Olympiads
Highly multi-lingual population
Strong e-skill, life-learning and senior education initiatives
Active digital users
EU Top 4 users of video calls and top 6 users of ibanks

5. ... but on the other hand...

6. Latvian IT Cluster
• NGO, 35 member companies
• First initiatives started 2000, legal entity founded 2007.
– Available funds
– Facing EU
• Part of Latvian Information and communications technology association
• External funding attraction & comperatively high membership fees
– Interreg
– H2020
– Cosme
• Government support for clusters:
– 2012-2015
– 2017-

7. paEi
Paei
PaEi
pAEi
- - E -
P – production
A – administration
E – entreprenourship
I - integration
PAEi
Adizes Corporate Lifecycle model

8. Cluster Vision
Effective partner for initiatives and activities
that are focused on Latvian Information and
Communication Technologies sector
development and on increasing international
competitiveness.
8

9. Working principles
Clear focus, services & rules
Focus on creating the business value for members
Building community and encouraging cooperation
Regular meetups
Regular communication
Information hub and bridge to related governmental or
international institutions

10. IT Cluster focus
Export and
internationalization
Cross – industry
collaboration
Riga IT Democentre

11. Organization/Administration of Trade Missions
 Organization of trade missions and project administration for
the Cluster members
 2015 (Support program by Latvian Investment and Development Agency):
• 59 individual visits and 12 trade missions
• IT cluster members recovered ~ € 400,000
• All submitted projects were approved
 2016:
• ~20 trade missions planned
• Several projects – local and internation signed to get external
financing for export development

12. Cross industry collaboration –
«The Obvious Selection» initiative
• 2015 as PR campaign initiated by 8 IT companies
• Help Latvian SMEs to rise the digital competency and demonstrate
ICT role to improve efficiency and competetiveness
• 6 DEMO enterprises – SMEs that are ready to implement ICT
solutions and share the experience and business results
To implement new customer service workflow and increase share
of electronic document exchange, incl. electronically signed.
First reportable results after 6m:
• 100% trained and equipped personnel
• Number of electronically provided services increased by 5%

13. Cross industry collaboration –
«The Obvious Selection» initiative
• To be continued with
– Cross-industry workshops to promote ICT usage, discuss
problems and share experience
• Cluster cooperation
• Set workshop goals for mutual benefit
• Moderation
– International consortiums and projects to finance further

14. Key Learnings
• Unknown unknowns
• SMEs are too busy of doing things wrong than learning
how to do it efficiently
• Leave IT for IT-people
• Willing to adopt solutions, but don’t realize that the
implementation process will take time and resources
• PR of small and good news is less demanded

15. Riga IT Democentre
• 2013
– IT marketing platform
– support for companies
– Pre-arranged visits only
• 2015
– Open for everyone
– EU presidency

16. Riga IT Demo Centre
16
Inspire Educate Promote

17. Media events

18. Latvia Presidency in the EU Council
• 2015 H1
• More than 2,500 foreign visitors & ~150 events:
– Conferences & assemblies
– Informal political, expert and high level meetings
• IT – the only industry represented

19. Inviting vice chair of the Committee on Internal Market and
Consumer Protection of EP, HE Princess Laurentien of the
Netherlands, Austrian State Secretary and many more...

20. Arranged guided tours for 150+ diplomats from all EU countries

21. Demonstrations during conferences, meetings and sessions

22. Case study - Catchbox
• The world’s first throwable wireless microphone
Educate:
School/student groups
Inspire:
Workshop with
innovation bootcamp
Promote
Using during conferences
and presenting to
business delegations

23. IT Cluster and Riga IT Democentre members

24. Key Learnings
• Clear cluster focus & strategy helps to attract new,
dedicated members, increase activity and gain industry and
cross-industry attention
• Even small organization can represent industry and achieve
high recognition
• Government support is essential, but it cannot be the sole
purpose for organizing the cluster
• Clusters can advocate business needs, but still stay
«neutral»

25. Thank you!
Latvian IT Cluster – promoting Latvian IT industry
www.itbaltic.com
www.rigaitdemocentre.com
Aiga Irmeja
Executive director Latvian IT Cluster
aiga.irmeja@itbaltic.com