Riga Invests in Innovation: Seven New Projects Receive Support from the Innovation Fund to Advance the Smart City

, , , ,

The Riga City Municipality Innovation Fund continues to support innovative projects that promote the development of Riga as a smart city. The 2025 Innovation Fund budget enables municipal institutions to implement solutions that improve service quality, foster digitalization, and introduce modern technologies into everyday operations.

Fund Objective and Priorities

The main goal of the Innovation Fund is to support the smart city development of Riga and the implementation of innovative projects. Funding is allocated to projects that improve services for residents, introduce new digital solutions, or pilot innovative technologies.

The 2025 priorities include:

  • Implementation of artificial intelligence solutions to improve work processes;
  • Pilot projects for innovative data collection technologies (e.g., sensors, remote sensing);
  • Trials of extended reality (XR) technologies;
  • Environmental technology solutions for urban greening (e.g., rainwater reuse);
  • Social innovation projects (with additional evaluation points).

The maximum amount allocated per project is EUR 25,000, and funds must be used by the end of 2025.

Project Submission and Evaluation

This year, 14 project applications were submitted by 8 municipal institutions, with a total requested funding of over EUR 350,000. Seven projects were approved, with a total budget of EUR 170,969.31.

Approved Projects for 2025

Real-Time Environmental Noise Monitoring in Riga
Applicant: Housing and Environment Department
Funding Granted: EUR 25,000
Objective: To identify and evaluate technologies, methods, and locations for the development of a noise monitoring system in Riga to support future noise reduction measures.
Description: A pilot monitoring system will be created to measure environmental noise levels in real-time at various city locations. The sensors will be adapted to withstand harsh urban environments and will function independently. Noise sensors will be installed on Brīvības Street (from TC “Alfa” to Ropažu Street), where many noise complaints have been received. The data will support urban planning and the creation of noise reduction action plans.

Acquisition of Drone Detection Sensors
Applicant: Riga Municipal Police
Funding Granted: EUR 25,000
Objective: To protect public spaces and critical infrastructure from unauthorized drone flights.
Description: Sensors will be purchased and installed in three strategic locations – the Kurzemes District Office, the Central District Office, and the Unified Control Center. The system will monitor airspace, identify unauthorized drone flights, and enable rapid response to potential threats, enhancing Riga’s security infrastructure during public events and daily operations.

Automated Public Event Calendar and Impact Zone Generation
Applicant: Department of Outdoor Space and Mobility
Funding Granted: EUR 24,200
Objective: To develop an AI-powered tool for visualizing the calendar of public events and their impact zones to improve traffic management.
Description: The project will develop a tool that uses AI to generate maps of events happening in Riga, forecast attendance, and identify changes in traffic flow. The goal is to adjust traffic light settings and plan municipal services accordingly. The tool will collect information on event times, locations, expected attendees, and movement patterns, enabling real-time infrastructure adjustments.

Traffic Incident Monitoring Using AI Solutions
Applicant: Department of Outdoor Space and Mobility
Funding Granted: EUR 22,990
Objective: To enable near real-time traffic monitoring for the municipality using AI and external data sources.
Description: A system will be created to analyze data from app users (e.g., Waze) and identify unusual traffic disruptions—such as accidents, flooded roads, or slippery areas—using AI. The system will provide visual information via maps and tables and generate alerts for municipal services, allowing quicker responses and improved safety.

Remote Monitoring and Control System for Shelters and Safe Spaces
Applicant: Civil Protection and Operational Information Administration
Funding Granted: EUR 25,000
Objective: To ensure 24/7 remote supervision and accessibility of shelter infrastructure in Riga.
Description: A centralized system will be developed to remotely monitor municipal shelters and designated safe spaces. Using advanced 5G sensors, the system will control microclimate, lighting, energy, and security. This solution will be crucial for strengthening civil protection in crisis situations.

“To Health Through the Senses”
Applicant: Riga Social Care Center “Gaiļezers”
Funding Granted: EUR 24,939.31
Objective: To improve the emotional well-being and health of clients using a multisensory environment.
Description: A multisensory room will be created with modern technologies—including audiovisual materials, aromatherapy, lighting, and sound controls—to reduce stress, boost mood, and promote relaxation. This environment is especially important for clients with mental disorders or age-related dementia. The approach is evidence-based and incorporates digital tools into daily care routines.

Development and Implementation of a Virtual Assistant in the GEO RĪGA Spatial Data Platform
Applicant: Geospatial Data Division, Geomatics Administration, City Development Department
Funding Granted: EUR 23,840.00
Objective: To enhance the usability and accessibility of the GEO RĪGA platform by implementing a virtual assistant for information search and user guidance.
Description: An AI-powered virtual assistant will be developed and integrated into the GEO RĪGA data platform. It will help users find necessary spatial data, answer questions, and provide tips on using tools and maps. The assistant will improve data accessibility for a wider audience, including professionals in urban planning, research, and business.

Summary and Future Challenges

This year’s approved projects cover a broad range of topics: safety and civil protection, social welfare, environmental monitoring, the use of artificial intelligence, data accessibility, and urban mobility. They reflect a modern municipal perspective on digitalization, practical innovation, and awareness of residents’ needs. Due to budget constraints, several high-quality projects could not be supported. This highlights a growing interest in innovative solutions within Riga Municipality operations.

Expert Discussion on the Development of Riga as a Smart City

, , , , , ,

On April 24, 2025, the Riga City Council hosted an expert discussion titled “Smart Riga: Now and in the Future”, where leading experts from public administration, business, academia, and non-governmental organizations discussed how to further develop Riga as a smart city and ensure effective collaboration between institutions and organizations.

The discussion was organized by the Riga Municipality to gather insights and proposals from industry representatives and to foster a shared understanding of Riga’s smart city development. Participants included experts from the fields of technology, innovation, academia, and public administration, who shared their visions and insights on current trends.

The Riga City Development Department has drafted the Riga Smart City Guidelines for 2025–2030, a strategic document that will serve as a roadmap and policy planning tool to ensure a unified approach to smart city development. The public consultation on the guidelines was open until May 6.

The first part of the discussion featured presentations by sector experts on the potential for smart city development in Riga. Presenters included:

  • Inese Andersone, Chair of the Riga City Council City Development Committee
  • Dr. Juris Binde, President of SIA “Latvijas Mobilais Telefons” and Chairman of the Board of the association “Latvijas Formula 2050
  • Diāna Korbe, Head of the Geomatics Division, Riga City Development Department
  • Jānis Kampars, Associate Professor at Riga Technical University
  • Viesturs Celmiņš, Executive Director of the innovation movement “VEFRESH”

The presentations were also broadcast on the Riga Municipality’s YouTube and Facebook channels under the name “Rīga attīstās” (“Riga Develops”).

In the second part of the discussion, experts focused on how Riga can become the smartest and most sustainable city in the Baltics, and how to enhance effective cooperation to achieve smart city goals. Additional participants included:

  • Kristaps Klauss, Vice President of the Latvian Forest Industry Federation
  • Edmunds Beļskis, Council Member of the Latvian ICT Association
  • Elīna Egle-Ločmele, Chairwoman of the Board of the Latvian Security and Defence Industries Federation
  • Valts Murāns, Project Manager at the European Digital Innovation Hub
  • Fredis Bikovs, Director of the Riga Investment and Tourism Agency
  • Valts Murāns, Project Manager at the Latvian IT Cluster and ITS Latvia
  • Inese Pommere-Bramane, Senior Expert at the Ministry of Climate and Energy
  • Jānis Delviņš, Business Division Manager at the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre
  • Dita Krecere and other sector experts

The discussion was moderated by Inese Andersone and Andris Nātriņš, Board Member of the BA School of Business and Finance and Board Member of the association “Latvijas Formula 2050”.

Forum “How Does Europe Support Service Digitalization and How Can We Use It?” Brought Together Latvia’s Smart Community Leaders

, ,

On April 15, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development hosted the forum “How Does Europe Support Service Digitalization and How Can We Use It?”. The event aimed to strengthen the digital readiness and understanding of Latvia’s municipalities. It was held within the framework of a European Commission initiative promoting the adoption of digital tools and digital twin technologies in regions and cities.

The forum was organized by VEFRESH in collaboration with Smart Communities Network Latvia and gathered over 100 participants from national government, local municipalities, the research sector, and technology industries. Attendees gained practical insights into several European Commission support tools such as LORDIMAS, the Online Procurement Helpdesk, the Living-in.EU knowledge platform, and other digitalization instruments.

The forum demonstrated a strong interest in practical, applicable digital tools across Latvian regions and confirmed the clear need for such events.

Programme Highlights:

10:00–10:05
Opening of the Forum
Viesturs Celmiņš, VEFRESH, Smart Communities Network Latvia

10:05–10:15
Digital Transformation in Latvia and the Role of Municipalities in the Digitalization Process
Inga Bērziņa, Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development

10:15–10:25
European Commission Support Instruments for Promoting Digitalization
Viesturs Celmiņš, VEFRESH, Smart Communities Network Latvia

10:25–10:40
Why Do We Need Digital Twins? Planning Next-Generation Digital Infrastructure in Europe
Arnis Gulbis, Director, Riga Digital Agency
Inga Barisa, Riga Digital Agency, “EDIC on Local Digital Twin & Citiverse Latvia”, Chair of the Living-in.EU Finance Working Group

10:40–11:25
Experience of Latvian Municipalities in Data Management: EU Support Tools for Digital and Smart Communities (Living-in.EU)
Artis Gustovskis, Head of the Kuldīga Digital Centre
Linda Alksne, IT Service Management Process Lead, Liepāja Municipality
Diāna Korbe, Head of the Geomatics Division, Riga City Development Department

11:25–11:40
Opportunities and Challenges in Developing the EU Open Data Management Platform in Latvia
Jānis Krakops, Data Management Division, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development

11:40–12:20
Panel Discussion: “How to Promote Service Digitalization, Competence Development, and Open Data Management in Regions and Cities?”

The forum affirmed that collaboration between municipalities, national authorities, and European institutions is a key prerequisite for successful digital transformation.

EUROCITIES Mobility Forum Held in Riga

, ,

From March 19 to 21, the international EUROCITIES Mobility Forum took place in Riga, gathering approximately 150 experts from across Europe. This year’s central theme was “Smart and Integrated Transport Systems for a Sustainable Urban Future.” The forum focused on the development of urban transport systems and public transport, Mobility as a Service (MaaS), low-emission zones, 5G technologies, and data-driven innovations.

The event fostered cooperation between cities and enabled the sharing of best practices to jointly develop smart, sustainable, and data-based mobility. Riga showcased several local initiatives and projects, including the Rail Baltica project, the e-ticketing system for public transport, smart traffic lights, and shared mobility solutions, all contributing to a more sustainable transport infrastructure.

On March 19, the first day of the forum, a panel discussion was held on urban transport technology innovations. Experts from Turin, Helsinki, EIT Urban Mobility, and Arnis Gulbis, Director of the Riga Digital Agency, represented the city. Working groups discussed topics such as 30 km/h zones, traffic speed management, cycling infrastructure, data usage, and the EU Cycling Declaration’s impact.

On March 20, Riga Mayor Vilnis Ķirsis addressed the forum participants. This was followed by a discussion among European city leaders about large-scale cooperation projects, Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) initiatives, and collaboration with member states. A panel discussion focused on major transport infrastructure projects, their implementation challenges, political leadership, and public engagement. Riga was represented by City Executive Director Jānis Lange and Chair of the City Development Committee Inese Andersone.

Later that day, four thematic breakout sessions were held. Experts from London, Madrid, Zagreb, Lyon, Rotterdam, Gothenburg, Brussels, and other cities exchanged views on topics such as low-emission zones, creating safe and accessible street spaces, traffic calming measures, multimodal hubs, the transition to automated mobility, and changing public behavior.

On March 21, the final day of the forum, experts from Stuttgart, Florence, Berlin, Lyon, and Riga shared successful examples of transport mobility development. The event concluded with a study visit around Riga to explore implemented projects and upcoming development plans. Participants viewed Rail Baltica infrastructure, pedestrian infrastructure in the Knowledge Mile area, the Riga Technical University pilot project site, public transport innovations (hydrogen fueling and electric bus charging stations), urban planning in the historical center, street typologies, urban design, and plans for low-emission zones.

The forum was organized by the Riga Digital Agency in cooperation with the City Development Department’s Mobility Planning Division and was held at the House of Sciences of the University of Latvia.
The full programe is available here: EUROCITIES Mobility Forum Programme

Bruntor selected as one of the TOP 20 GLOBAL Mobility Startups to Watch in 2025

,

Bruntor together with Riga city have been testing their scooters’ efficiency and adaptability in various terrains and in real-life environment common to Rīga’s landscape, including city streets, cobblestone paths, and grassy areas within parks and green spaces and the results have been great.

Therefore, no surprise and proud to announce that Bruntor, a special cargo scooter developed in Latvia has been selected as one of the TOP 20 GLOBAL Mobility Startups to Watch in 2025.
Bruntor is on a mission to shape the future of urban mobility and make a lasting impact and the city of Riga is glad to accompany on this journey!

Here is a brief overview of what bruntor is and for the full StartUs Insights report, please click here.

Bruntor makes a 4-wheeled Cargo Scooter

A startup from Latvia manufacturing a 4-wheel stand-up electric scooter equipped with a cargo compartment, Bruntor Cargo. The scooter has dimensions of 140 x 70 cm and a height of 120 cm. It has a load capacity of 120 kg and achieves a driving speed of 25 km/h. The Bruntor Cargo offers more efficiency than a bicycle and can operate on bike lanes, enhancing its urban utility.

The scooter can withstand bad roads and adverse weather conditions. It enables more last mile deliveries with the same team, avoiding congestion and facilitating faster urban movement. Additionally, the design is user-friendly, allowing easy operation by a wide range of users, including the elderly.

Drone data collection and processing – Riga shares use cases and valuable insights

, , ,

​The second drone ecosystem-building seminar “Drone data collection and processing – use cases in Latvia” of the “Smart Skies” project takes place in Valmiermuiza, Valmiera County on the 12th of February.

​Participants will gain practical insights into drone operations through stories shared by Valmiera, Riga Local Government, leading Latvian mobile operator LMT, and others. Riga will share valuable insights from various perspectives and use cases of drones such as citizen safety (5G4LIVES project), planning landing sites and routes of drones (CITYAM project) and surveying the city’s infrastructure and using the data for creation of city’s digital twin (Application of UAV in City Development Department of Riga Local Government). See the full agenda and register for seminar here.

“The Smart Skies project will test the use of drones to monitor infrastructure and territories, seeking smart and innovative solutions for municipal functions. The project will include drone test flights in the territory of Valmiera Municipality and Tartu City Municipality, with a joint report on the tested solution. The project partners will also develop a joint strategy and action plan for the development of drone-based services, which will serve as a useful planning tool for other municipalities in the Vidzeme and South Estonia region.

Project objective:
The aim of the project is to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of infrastructure surveillance in Tartu and Valmiera by drones, based on a common solution developed within the project.

Project activities:
-Test flights of drones in Tartu City and Valmiera Municipality.
-Development of a common solution based on the test flights.
-Development of a joint development strategy and action plan for the development of drone-based services.
Organisation of joint ecosystem building events with stakeholders, ensuring knowledge and technology transfer.

Project results:
-Jointly developed strategy for a five-year period (2025-2029) for the development of drone-based municipal services in Tartu, Valmiera County and surrounding regions.
-Jointly developed Action Plan (2025-2029) for the development of drone-based municipal services in Tartu, Valmiera and surrounding regions.
-Drone-based municipal infrastructure surveillance trials (pilot activities) in Tartu and Valmiera.
-Development of a joint solution based on the pilot activities, gathering experiences.