At the end of November, the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, in collaboration with the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), will offer a fully funded training course for entrepreneurs looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in innovation management.
“The growth and competitiveness of Latvian companies in the global market directly depend on their ability to successfully manage and implement innovations. We are pleased to support high-level Mini MBA courses in innovation management, which over two years will provide 80 mid- and senior-level managers with essential skills and a strategic vision regarding the role of innovation in business growth. Positive feedback from entrepreneurs in previous years attests to the programme's value. Therefore, we continue to innovate the program and attract increasingly stronger and knowledgeable specialists who not only have experience in teaching MBA programmes but also practical experience in building and developing their own companies,” emphasizes LIAA Director Raivis Bremšmits.
The format of the Mini MBA programme, adopted by leading business schools around the world, is based on similar principles to traditional Master of Business Administration (MBA) programmes. It is designed specifically for current and aspiring managers in companies and organizations, providing them with essential management skills and strategies. In the 10-week intensive program, participants will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills in innovation management, helping to increase the company's competitiveness, promote growth, and improve productivity, thereby strengthening their ability to operate successfully in the global market.
“We are excited to collaborate with Latvian entrepreneurs, providing them access to knowledge and international experience that will foster their business development and the creation of new opportunities. Our goal is to help companies not only maintain competitiveness but also become leaders in innovation on an international scale,” notes SSE Riga Rector Anders Paalzow.
For 30 years, SSE Riga has provided competitive business education at both Bachelor’s and Master’s levels, as well as in adult continuing education programs. According to the annual rankings published by “Financial Times”, SSE Riga is recognized as the number one business school in the Nordic and Eastern European region. Graduates of the training course will receive certificates issued by SSE Riga.
Training Program and Topics
During the 10 weeks of the Mini MBA program, participants will have the opportunity to learn from local and international instructors about essential topics such as:
- Trends in the development of modern technologies
- Innovation and strategy
- Fundamentals of design thinking
- Product strategy
- Innovations in products and business models
- Process innovations
- Innovation management within companies
- Problem-solving skills
- Negotiation management
- Innovation and leadership, building high-performance teams
- Financial issues related to innovation development
The program will also include an "innovation laboratory" and a mentor to assist in the creation and market introduction of new products and services.
Who Can Apply?
Applications are invited from mid- and senior-level managers of small and medium-sized enterprises, heads of structural units, and managers of innovation and development processes operating in one of the five areas defined by the Smart Specialization Strategy (RIS3), and who plan to implement or have already implemented innovations in their companies.
Selection of Participants and Application Process
The training will be conducted in English, and only 20 participants will be accepted in one group. Applications will be accepted starting from October 28 on the platform https://business.gov.lv/. The number of places is limited, with preference given to the first companies whose applications meet the selection criteria. More information about the course start and duration can be found at www.business.gov.lv.
This training course is implemented under the ERDF project “Support for the Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship in SMEs.”
