Baltic Innovation Agency / BIA

25/09/2025

Impact investment in the Baltics hasn’t reached its full potential — yet.

Our new report highlights key barriers and what’s needed to unlock growth for social enterprises in the region.

📈 Challenges exist, but the landscape is evolving — with new opportunities on the horizon.

📝 Read the full report: https://bit.ly/impact-investment-baltics

05/09/2025

🚀 There have been positive trends showing that more and more startups are turning to social impact, but their actual contribution remains difficult to assess due to the lack of formal impact assessment mechanisms.

02/09/2025

🥁 Drumroll, please... BIA has a new look! 🥳

We’re excited to announce that the Baltic Innovation Agency (BIA) has refreshed its brand identity. BIA 2.0 is more than just a new visual identity – it’s a mindset. It reflects our shared ambition to do things better, work smarter, and create real impact together with our partners.

While our essence remains the same, this new phase represents our ambition to take on new challenges and continue creating meaningful impact together with our partners.

Our vision is clear: to be the leading innovation partner, known for smart, tailored solutions that drive meaningful progress and create value both locally and globally. Our mission is to support and accelerate the development of innovative ideas, bringing a positive impact to society. But how, you may ask:

📑 Analysis & studies
🏃 Trainings & Accelerator Programmes
📚 Knowledge Transfer
✍ Proposal Development
🙋♂️ Project Management

We’re excited for this next chapter and look forward to continuing the journey with all of you. Check out our new website at: www.bia.ee

09/07/2025

SKYCORP Technologies arendab vesinikul töötavaid droone, mis on loodud pikaajalisteks ja keerulisemateks missioonideks.

10/06/2025

How do you build services that people actually love?

According to Lars-Erik Hion from Rethink, while 80% of organizations think they deliver outstanding service, only 8% of customers agree. That gap says a lot.

In a very practical "Hands-on Design Thinking" training, Lars — who has 20+ years of experience leading design thinking processes — walked Twinnovation project companies through what it really takes to design meaningful solutions.

Of course, we all know the basics: do your research, talk to people, map your goals. But this session took it further — with real tools, worksheets, and tricks that help turn ideas into something that truly serves the user.

One takeaway that really stuck: simple solutions might feel underwhelming when you compare them to the time and money you've spent... but often, simplicity is exactly what people need.

Curious? Check out the video from the training to dive deeper. https://lnkd.in/gwVs6UQF

28/04/2025

❓Ever wondered how companies can manage to pack exactly 500g of chicken into each box?📦 This is just one example of the impressive machines Peruza design and produce 🛠️.

15/04/2025

10/04/2025

Microsoft Power Apps – what are they?

The project partners attended a training session Microsoft Power Apps and had a hands on workshop to develop their own first prototype for recording maintenance work on equipment.

📢 A huge thank you to Reinis Vaivods from ELVA for providing this insightful session!

🔥Microsoft Power Apps is a citizen friendly development platform that enables to automate single processes. The tool allows for interface design that can simplify procedures within a company.
🔥For small teams using the Power Apps can be an affordable alternative to tailored solutions or on-the shelf products.

🔎 We also learned that:
💡 Power Apps are a solution worth considering when there are no ready-made solutions available. The tool offers flexibility to adjust the tool for your company particularities.
💡 One of the great benefits of the Power Apps is the speed of development. As it uses a low-code approach and has pre-built components, you can quickly create a usable version to solve business challenges. Power App solutions can also “live inside a company” without the need of aligning development needs with third party providers.
💡 PowerApps are designed to seamlessly operate in any browser, mobile device or laptop making them convenient to operate on the shop floor of manufacturing businesses.
💡 Power Apps can also be used to build an add on to an existing ERP system.
💡Power Apps can be used to enhance quality control and invoicing processes, timesheets, approval forms, etc.
💡Microsoft tools are not limited to Power Apps, but the entire Power Platform offers various low-code development tools that can simplify processes for companies.

Read more about the project: https://lnkd.in/dqfTbHbt

19/02/2025

🌱Sustainability communication: The key to your company’s future 🌱

The project partners attended a training session exploring how businesses can communicate their sustainability efforts effectively, transparently, and credibly.

🌍 With growing stakeholder expectations and the upcoming European Green Claims Directive (set for 2026), businesses can no longer afford vague or misleading sustainability claims. Sustainability isn’t just an ethical choice – it has become imperative for long-term business viability.

🔥How to get it right?

✅ DO:
✔ Be transparent — share both successes and challenges.
✔ Align sustainability with your core values — authenticity and consistency are key.
✔ Use data — back up claims to demonstrate real impact.
✔ Engage stakeholders — open dialogue fosters trust, encourages participation and strengthens brand loyalty.

❌ DON’T:
✖ Use vague buzzwords — statements like “eco-friendly” must be backed up by facts.
✖ Greenwash — exaggerated claims erode trust and may lead to legal consequences.

🔎 PRO TIPS:
💡Control your narrative – if you’re not telling your story, others will tell it for you (and not in the way you’d like).
💡Poor communication has a cost – it might result in missed opportunities, lost revenue and reputational damage.

📢 Clear and transparent communication is the foundation to long-term success. How a company communicates its sustainability journey, will shape its reputation and viability for years to come.

A huge thank you to Zane Valujeva for her invaluable guidance and expertise.



Read more about the project: https://bia.ee/twinnovation/

14/01/2025

As our IBESI project comes to an end, we are proud to share that during the project timeline, we supported over 190 entrepreneurs, accelerated over 50 impact companies, engaged 70+ policymakers and better connected 4 Nordic-Baltic ecosystems. 🎉

🎬 We are also thrilled to launch the IBESI Replication Toolkit - a one-stop platform to help you benefit from the project's results and learnings. This interactive, easy-to-ready resource is designed to empower policymakers, social entrepreneurs, business support organisations, and researchers in driving impactful social innovation across Europe.

💡 What will you find inside the IBESI Replication Toolkit?
▪️ Key Deliverables: From the overview of the training pilots for startup hubs to social innovation best practices report
▪️ Practical Resources: Access to articles, slides, methodologies, and actionable recommendations.
▪️ Inspiring Case Studies: Lessons learned from hackathons, accelerators, and collaborations across the Nordic-Baltic countries.
▪️ Expert Insights: Ideas for enhancing social entrepreneurship and fostering financially sustainable social enterprises.

🔎 Whether you’re shaping policies, conducting social impact initiatives, mentoring social entrepreneurs, or building ecosystems, explore the IBESI Replication Toolkit: https://bia.ee/ibesi-replication-toolkit/

📯 Let’s make an impact together! Feel free to share this resource with your network and help us amplify the power of social innovation.

💚 We are immensely grateful to our partners from Sotsiaalsete Ettevõtete Võrgustik, Katalista Ventures, and Reach for Change for their dedication and collaboration throughout this journey. Together, we have created a positive impact with a hopefully lasting ripple effect on the social entrepreneurship scene in Europe. A warm thank you from us!

🤝 The IBESI Replication Toolkit was created as part of the Integrated Baltic Ecosystem for Social Innovation (IBESI) project by Baltic Innovation Agency, Social Enterprise Estonia, Katalista Ventures, Reach for Change and funded by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).

This IBESI Replication Toolkit is tailored to provide you with the practical resources to drive impactful social innovation initiatives.