The Liepaja SEZ Authority Choice Awards Presented to Student Companies LAMPwood and PLIX

For the second year in a row, the Liepaja SEZ Authority is participating in the evaluation of the national final of Latvia’s best student companies and presents its own Choice Award in both the basic and secondary school groups.

This year, in the basic school group, the Liepaja SEZ Authority Choice Award was presented to the student company LAMPwood for creation of a sustainable and unique interior design object - a lamp. The project stood out with its aesthetically designed stand, an engaging logo, a convincing presentation, a cohesive team, development-oriented entrepreneurship, and products that reflect the spirit of Liepaja. LAMPwood is a company from the Liepaja State Gymnasium, and its members are Raivo Egmanis and Emīlija Betrama.

In the secondary school group, the Liepaja SEZ Authority Choice Award went to the student company PLIX for the development and production of a compact plastic recycling device - a sustainable solution supporting the circular economy. The company demonstrated innovative improvements in refining the production equipment, mastery of the software required for manufacturing, and a production approach based on knowledge, experimentation, and development. PLIX is a student company from the Riga State Technical School, with members: Marks Žihars, Laura Krasņikova, and Tomass Lībenzobs.

Student companies provide valuable opportunities for young people to acquire their first entrepreneurial skills while still in school and to develop a product from idea to sale. Students from Liepaja have always been active and achieved strong results. Student companies promote the development and popularization of entrepreneurship. This is practice-based learning that sparks students’ interest in understanding processes, strengthens their confidence, and motivates them to achieve new goals.

From April 27 to 28, Liepaja is hosting the youth entrepreneurship event “Gen-E” - the national final of Latvian student companies, organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) and the educational organization “Junior Achievement Latvia” (JA Latvia). Over the course of two days, 31 of the best student company teams from across Latvia will present their products and business ideas, competing for the opportunity to represent Latvia in the European final, which will take place in Riga this year.

Over two days, 31 of the best student company teams from across Latvia will present their products and business ideas, competing for the opportunity to represent Latvia in the European Final, which will take place in Riga this year.

A total of 10 basic school and 21 secondary school student companies have been selected for the final. Throughout the academic year, they have demonstrated a high level of achievement in product development, entrepreneurial thinking, and presentation skills.