Kurzeme Business Forum: Challenges of the IT Sector in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

May 20
Ventspils Science Center “Vizium”
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

May 21–22
Ventspils University of Applied Sciences
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Speakers

Laura_Codere.jpg

Laura Čodere

Moderator

Janis_Vitolins-4.jpg

Jānis Vītoliņš

Chairman of the Ventspils City council

Viktors_Valainis__1_-5.jpg

Viktors Valainis

Minister of Economics of the Republic of Latvia

Andris_Vaivads__1_.jpg

Andris Vaivads

Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Signe_Balina-2.jpg

Signe Bāliņa

Information and Communications Technology Association,
Moderator of Part 1

Oksana_Sivokobilska.jpg

Oksana Sivokobiļska

Latvian Association of Artificial Intelligence,
Moderator of Part 2

Evalds_Urtans-3.jpg

Ēvalds Urtāns

Asya Ltd

Guntis_Coders.jpg

Guntis Čoders

Theo Growth Ltd

Renate_Strazdina.jpg

Renāte Strazdiņa

Microsoft Technologies

Maksims_Jegorovs.jpg

Maksims Jegorovs

Nuoxera Ltd,
 Moderator of Part 3

Girts_Ledins.jpg

Ģirts Lediņš

Talzy Ltd

Vairis_Caune.jpg

Vairis Caune

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Raita_Rollande.jpg

Raita Rollande

TestDevLab

Kristiana_Balode.jpg

Kristiāna Balode

Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

Egons_Spalans.jpg

Egons Spalāns

Ventspils City Municipality


Agenda – May 20

STRENGTHENING THE IT SECTOR IN THE REGION
Part 1

9:30
Registration and coffee

10:00 - 10:30
Opening
Moderator: Laura Čodere

Jānis Vītoliņš, Chairman of the Ventspils City Council
Viktors Valainis, Minister of Economics of the Republic of Latvia

IT education challenges in higher education

Andris Vaivads, Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences

10:30 - 10:45
Strengthening the IT Sector in the Region
Signe Bāliņa
, President of Information and Communications Technology Association

10:45 - 11:30
Discussion: Strengthening the IT Sector in the Region

Moderator: Signe Bāliņa

Participants:
Signe Bāliņa, President of Information and Communications Technology Association
Viktors Valainis, Minister of Economics of the Republic of Latvia
Andris Vaivads, Rector of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences
Egons SpalānsDeputy Executive Director of the Ventspils City Municipality
Gatis OzolsDeputy State Secretary for Digital Transformation of VARAM

11:30 - 12:00
Coffee Break

AI AND THE FUTURE OF IT: OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS
Part 2

12:00 - 12:15
AI and the Future of IT: Opportunities and Risks

Oksana Sivokobiļska,
Member of the Board of the Artificial Intelligence Latvia Association

12:15 - 13:00
Discussion: AI and the Future of IT: Opportunities and Risks

Moderator: Oksana Sivokobiļska


Participants:

Ēvalds Urtāns, Asya Ltd
Guntis Čoders,
CEO at Theo Growth Ltd
Renāte Strazdiņa, Head of Microsoft Technologies in Central Europe and Central Asia

HUMAN RESOURCES CHALLENGE IN THE IT ERA
Part 3

13:00 - 13:15
TBD
Maksims Jegorovs, Nuoxera Ltd

13:15 - 14:00
Discussion:
Human Resource Challenges in the IT Era

Moderator: Maksims Jegorovs

Participants:
Vairis Caune, Lecturer at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences
Raita Rollande, TestDevLab Ltd
Kristiāna Balode, Doctoral Student and Visiting Research Assistant at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences
Ģirts Lediņš, founder of Talzy Ltd

The agenda will be updated.

Lunch break*

*Event participants will be provided with free lunch by the organizers.

PITCH SESSION

Moderator: Guntis Čoders

Forum language – Latvian. Interpretation at the forum will be provided by AI tool (please bring your own headphones).

Agenda – May 21

9:00 - 9:40
Workshop Introduction

9:40 - 12:00

Idea Exchange, Introduction of Entrepreneurs, Team Formation and Task Allocation

12:00 - 13:00
Lunch Break

13:00 - 14:00
Design Thinking Masterclass

14:00 - 15:45
Independent Teamwork  

15:45 - 16:00
Closing of the Day

Agenda – May 22

9:00 - 9:15
Introduction to the Day

9:15 - 10:30

Team Mentoring

10:30 - 12:30
Independent Teamwork

12:30 - 13:15
Lunch Break

13:15 - 15:15
Idea Presentations

15:15 - 16:00
Event Closing

Register


Organizers

2026KBF_visi_logo__4_-5.png

2026KBF_visi_logo-1.png

2026KBF_visi_logo__2_-3.png

2026KBF_visi_logo__1_-3.png

2026KBF_visi_logo__3_-3.png

2026_KBF_visi_logo__2_-3.png



Partners

2026KBF_visi_logo__7_-5.png

2026_KBF_visi_logo__3_-1.png
2026_KBF_visi_logo__4_-3.png
2026_KBF_visi_logo__5_-7.png
2026_KBF_visi_logo__6_-4.png
2026_KBF_visi_logo__8_-3.png

2026_KBF_visi_logo__7_-5.png


Contact us







.