Daugavpils University’s Research and Business Center “REBUS” Head, Sanita Kecko, participated in the Baltics Catching-Up Regions Initiative (CuRI) Forum, which took place on 17–18 September 2025 in Anykščiai, Lithuania. Hosted by the European Commission and the World Bank, this second peer-learning forum of the Baltics Catching-Up Regions Initiative (CuRI) focused on the role of social enterprises and social innovation in building resilience in border and peripheral regions.

Building on the experience of the first forum, held in Daugavpils, Latvia (March 2025), participants included practitioners from national authorities, EU institutions, local governments, civil society, and the private sector, representing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

The event explored practical responses to regional challenges—such as depopulation, limited service provision and social participation, and economic fragmentation—through approaches grounded in social entrepreneurship and community-driven innovation. Using a mix of discussions based on local case studies, interactive workshops, and targeted networking, the forum inspired new models of public interventions, encouraged cross-border cooperation, and strengthened regional ecosystems.

More information: sanita.kecko@du.lv

Baltics Catching-up Regions Forum photographer