News

An Optical Revolution in Latvia’s Defense and Technology Sector  

Baltic Photonics has unveiled an ambitious plan to establish a cutting-edge factory in Latvia for the production of third-generation night vision devices. The facility is set to become the largest of its kind in Europe, positioning Latvia as a new high-tech competence hub for the region. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with full-scale operations expected by 2027.

The recently held Drone Summit 2025 in Riga brought together a wide range of experts — from leading drone developers and startups to defense policymakers, data security professionals, and aviation specialists.

On May 26, 2025, Baltic Photonics took part in a key Latvian–Estonian business cooperation event — the visit of the Estonian business delegation to Riga, hosted at the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia. 

On May 16, 2025, SIA Baltic Photonics took part in Deep Tech Atelier 2025 — the leading science and technology conference in the Baltics, which this year focused strongly on defence innovation, technological sovereignty, and the strengthening of security infrastructure.

From May 9 to 11, Latvia hosted its first EUDIS Defence Hackathon at RTU Rezekne Academy, where 17 teams developed solutions based on real defence sector needs. The winning team, EchoSentinel, created an artificial intelligence-based system capable of detecting potential battlefield threats within just 48 hours.

Baltic Photonics is proud to support the EUDIS Defence Hackathon 2025, taking place from May 9 to 11 at the Rezekne Academy of Technologies and online. This event is one of eight strategic defence innovation hackathons held across Europe, bringing together students, researchers, and startups to co-create next-generation defence technologies.

In Riga, SAPRA members and international partners from several countries gathered for a series of meetings, with participation from Theon Sensors (Greece), Harder Digital, and Scytalys.

Baltic Photonics took part in a meeting with representatives of the Danish Embassy to discuss the role of photonics in modern defense technologies and explore cross-border cooperation between Latvia and Denmark.

Baltic Photonics and SAPRA jointly represented Latvia’s technology sector at the innovation event in Brussels, where the focus was on future funding opportunities, photonics solutions, and defense innovations.

High-level discussions took place at the Polish Embassy in Riga between representatives of Latvia and Poland’s defense and business sectors, marking a new stage of collaboration in the strategically important field of military technologies.

Baltic Photonics, SAPRA, and EFA Group have formalized a strategic partnership, establishing a forward-looking collaboration aimed at advancing technological innovation within the security and defense industry. By combining expertise in photonics, security solutions, and advanced engineering, the partnership sets the stage for the development and deployment of next-generation technologies tailored to meet the complex challenges of today’s global security landscape.

Continuing to develop international partnerships and technological cooperation, Baltic Photonics and SAPRA held high-level discussions in Athens, Greece, with the ambassador, discussing potential collaboration with the Greek government and the Ministry of Defense. The discussions focused on strengthening defense and security innovations, enhancing industrial partnerships, and promoting regional stability and cooperation.

Baltic Photonics, SAPRA, and Theon Sensors have taken a significant step in expanding their partnership and reaffirming their commitment to fostering technological innovation and industry growth. During a high-level meeting in Athens, Greece, Baltic Photonics and SAPRA Chairman of the Board Edgars Zandmanis and Communications Department Head Ani Andronikashvili met with Theon Sensors' leadership to explore new avenues for collaboration and discuss the advancement of the high-tech sector.

Latvia has the potential not only to strengthen its position in the security industry but also to become one of Europe's leading centers for defense technology research and innovation. To achieve this, the country needs a consistent policy that promotes sector development and creates favorable conditions for investment.

At Baltic Photonics, our laboratory is at the forefront of scientific progress, continuously evolving to integrate cutting-edge technologies and optimize precision. Through ongoing innovations in equipment, methodologies, and quality control, we strive to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and reliability in all our processes.

Latvia is taking a significant step forward in the defense industry – Baltic Photonics, in collaboration with international partners, is investing heavily in the creation of a new factory.

This initiative will not only strengthen the country's defense capabilities but also create new jobs and promote technological development in the Baltic region.

On January 8, 2025, Baltic Photonics had the honor of welcoming the Minister of Economics, Viktors Valainis, to its facilities. During the visit, the Minister was introduced to the company's strategic plans, vision, and cutting-edge advancements in photonics and defence technology.