Student Innovation Grants

The goal of the project Rīgas Stradiņa universitātes inovāciju granti studentiem is to develop students’ innovation and entrepreneurial skills by promoting practical learning and interdisciplinary collaboration between students from different fields, the university, and industry representatives.

The project implements a student innovation programme that supports participants in developing their ideas from the initial concept to a functional prototype. The programme covers all stages from idea validation to practical implementation, providing mentoring, expert consultations and access to university infrastructure.

The programme structure includes several support levels: Explore Get to Know, the Pre-incubation Programme (PINK), the Incubation Programme (INK), as well as thematic workshops, hackathons and short-term training camps (bootcamps).

The project also includes an idea bank developed in cooperation with industry representatives, giving students the opportunity to address real sector challenges and propose innovative solutions based on the needs of healthcare, education, defence and other key industries.

RSU Innovation Grants for Students implementation procedure

Why get involved?

Programmes and activities

Explore Get to Know

Explore Get to Know is an introductory stage into the innovation and entrepreneurship environment at RSU. Its purpose is to help students discover their potential, develop creative thinking, and learn the basic principles of how an idea can become a real solution.

During the programme, students:

Get to know the innovation ecosystem and the opportunities offered by the RSU business incubator “B-Space”, and look into current industry challenges
Work on idea generation and initial validation
Learn to analyse problems and explore solutions in cooperation with industry representatives

This stage is designed for those who are just beginning to form their idea and want to understand how to develop it further before moving on to pre-incubation or submitting a grant application.

Pre-Incubation Programme (PINK)

The pre-incubation programme is intended for students and teams who want to clearly define their idea, understand the next steps for development, and find the necessary competencies for their team. Participants learn how to test the idea’s viability, build a business model, and prepare for the next stage – incubation.

During the programme, students:

Learn idea generation methods
Work with mentors and experts
Analyse target audiences and market needs
Learn to prepare a budget and a project application for the innovation grant

Pre-incubation is a safe environment for experimentation and hands-on learning, with the opportunity to receive feedback from experienced entrepreneurs and lecturers.

PINK programme is taking place every autumn semester.

Application for participation in the Pre-Incubation (PINK) Programme
Pre-Incubation (PINK) Programme evaluation sheet

Incubation Programme (INK)

The incubation programme is designed for teams that already have a formulated business idea and clear next steps for development. The aim is to help student teams implement their projects and achieve a practical result, such as a prototype, pilot project or finished product. Teams of 2–5 members can participate, and at least one member must be connected to RSU. All participants must apply with a shared business idea to ensure the team is working toward one goal.

When applying, teams are also asked to prepare an initial budget. This helps determine how well the idea has been thought through and what resources will be needed next. Once the programme begins, teams gain access to funding, materials and consultations, enabling them to move quickly into real development work. At the end of the programme, the top three teams receive an additional cash prize of 3000 EUR to continue implementing their idea.

Throughout the programme, teams learn detailed skills required for product or service development, including intellectual property protection and various legal aspects. Work takes place in thematic workshops and through individual mentoring, helping teams shape technical solutions, their communication plan and market strategy. This is the stage when an idea gradually becomes something tangible – something you can finally show to others.

INK programme is taking place every spring semester.

Application for participation in the Incubation (INK) Programme
Budget project form
Budget project evaluation sheet
Final report form
Final report evaluation sheet

Bootcamps (short intensive trainings)

In these trainings, participants develop specific skills such as pitching, teamwork, design thinking or prototype development. The bootcamp format allows students to acquire new knowledge quickly, test ideas in practice and build valuable future contacts.

Events

Networking is one of the most valuable opportunities for new entrepreneurs – it helps not only to share ideas and experiences, but also to find collaborators, partners or future mentors. B-Space offers an environment where participants can meet, talk and learn from each other, as well as opportunities to attend conferences, meetings with industry experts and other events that broaden both knowledge and professional connections.

Idea Bank

When starting pre-incubation or preparing for the incubation programme, participants can develop an idea from scratch or draw inspiration from the B-Space idea bank. The idea bank gathers challenges and problems from various companies and research institutions that are waiting for the right solutions. By choosing an idea bank challenge, a team can be confident that their idea will be relevant and in demand. Each challenge provider is also available for consultations, helping the team understand the problem more deeply and receive early-stage feedback.

View Idea Bank

Mentors

When developing an idea, guidance from entrepreneurs, specialists and field experts is especially valuable. That is why RSU B-Space offers a wide mentor network that provides consultations on topics such as entrepreneurship, starting a business, marketing, finance, intellectual property protection, customer and market research, and more. During the pre-incubation and incubation programmes, teams are encouraged to book individual mentoring sessions to ask questions and receive feedback on their idea.