LIAA (the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia) has launched an ambitious artificial intelligence (AI) support programme for small and medium-sized businesses. It's the first initiative of this scale in Latvia, and it has already generated considerable interest among business owners.
AI Master Lab partners Guntis Kalniņš and Ivars Krampis-Vanags shared insight in the webinar on how to prepare wisely for an application, taking into account both the programme's conditions and the scale of investment planned.
How to approach participation in the LIAA AI support programme
- The programme is generous – but not simple. More than €18 million is available through 2029, but applying isn't a copy-paste exercise. It calls for a considered, strategic approach.
- Organization-wide, not personal productivity. The programme isn't meant for individual AI tools or GPT licences. It's about processes at the whole-company level.
- One shot, one project. The LIAA programme currently supports only one application per company. If it fails, there's no second chance. That's why it's critical to test the idea in practice first.
- Don't rush the application. As Guntis puts it: "Don't jump in just because the money is there." Start with preparation and experimentation.
- Experimentation is non-negotiable. Most AI projects fail because of overly high expectations and insufficient data. Experimental sprints help validate an idea before you commit major resources.
- Maturity level determines success. A company's AI maturity – not its general digital maturity – is what decides the outcome. Without prior experience or experimentation, the odds of success are only 5–15%.
- Focus, not generalities. An AI project needs to be specific, with measurable results and a clear business goal – not "improve everything."
- A good idea isn't enough – you need data. Even a brilliant idea won't survive without quality, well-organized data. Data preparation is often one of the hardest (and most expensive) stages of getting ready.
- Apply only once you're ready. Strategy → Ideation → Experimentation → Application. This is the recommended order if you want to improve your odds of securing support.