On 20-21 of April, 2023, the 18th Baltic Conference on Intellectual Cooperation (BCIC) will be held at the Latvian Academy of Sciences in Riga. The conference will gather delegations from the academies of sciences of the Baltic Sea countries – Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania and Latvia.

The theme of the 18th BCIC this year is "Energy for the Future Society"; various aspects of energy will be discussed: fossil energy – natural gas, oil; renewables – hydro, geothermal, photovoltaics – solar, hybrid tandem solar cells, fuel cells, wind, waves, piezo, tribo, bioenergy, biofuel, CO2 conversion; thermoelectric, thin film batteries for medical implants; nuclear – nuclear power plants, modular reactors, fusion, etc. Also the conference will highlight the role of social sciences in the creation and implementation of energy policy, and put emphases on the importance of science as an added value in increasing the economic potential of society, rational use of natural resources in the context of climate change.

The guest speakers of the conference include the Director of the Energy Programme of the European Academies of Sciences Advisory Council (EASAC) Prof. William Gillet, EU Commissioner for Energy Affairs Prof. Andris Piebalgs (2004-2009), energy policy makers, as well as energy entrepreneurs and other stake holders.

18th Baltic Conference on Intellectual Cooperation Programme [pdf] (updated on April 18, 2023) 

Registration

Conference homepage. 

Organized in partnership with:

On March 29, 2023, the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) celebrated the opening of its new Biotechnology facility. The two-story laboratory spaces are equipped with the latest research equipment for molecular and structural biology research, which will enhance LIOS’s capabilities and potential for discovering new drugs.

During the opening ceremony, Director of LIOS Dr. Osvalds Pugovičs stated that the development of biotechnology was a logical step forward to improve the existing LIOS drug discovery platform.

“This will significantly expand the institute’s research capabilities, ensuring a complete early drug discovery and research cycle, from design of active molecules to manufacturing technology development as well as wide range of pre-clinical tests,” he said.

Minister for the Economy Ilze Indriksone stated that the new Biotechnology facility is more than just a building.

“It symbolizes a commitment to continue developing world-class science, providing a healthier society with new drugs, and ensuring growth for the Latvian economy. It is a testament to the power of collaboration and the potential of smart specialists. However, the key to success is not only in the beautiful facade and the latest technology. The people who will work in this building are much more important. It will be LIOS’s talented researchers, scientists, and technical staff who will promote progress and create innovations for the transformation of the economy in the coming years,” emphasized Indriksone.

Minister for Education and Science Anda Čakša noted that the Institute of Organic Synthesis has always been a home for new socially significant discoveries made by our scientists’ persistence and determination.

“Scientific excellence, involvement of young scientists, students, and modern infrastructure opportunities create confidence in the future potential of discovering new drugs, which are essential in medicine. Let’s achieve success in science and strengthen collaboration with universities, finding unique solutions for Latvia and the world!” she said during the opening ceremony.

Before the opening ceremony, there was an opportunity to attend an academic lecture by Professor Virginijus Šikšnys (Vilnius University) on the development of biotechnology in Lithuania. In 2021, the biotechnology industry accounted for 2.5% of Lithuania’s GDP, and by 2030, the country hopes to increase this share to 5% of GDP.

The development of biotechnology at LIOS began in 2019, implementing an EU co-funded project “BioDrug” and attracting relevant experts, including Professor Emilio Parisini, the head of the Biotechnology group. Over time, the new research group has already integrated into the institute’s research structure and, thanks to the new spaces, will significantly intensify scientific activity. Scientists from the existing Physical Organic Chemistry laboratory at LIOS, led by Professor Kristaps Jaudzems, will also work in the Biotechnology facility.

In the 550 m2 large laboratory building, scientists will be able to obtain biologically significant proteins needed for rational drug development, protein biomaterials required for tissue engineering, and implement biocatalytic processes and early phases of bio-pharmaceutical development. Until now, performing these studies at LIOS was challenging due to various technological constraints.

The technical design of the new facility was developed by SIA “OZOLA & BULA, arhitektu birojs”, construction work was carried out by SIA “Torensberg,” and construction supervision was provided by SIA “Būves un būvsistēmas.” The construction work was carried out as part of the European Regional Development Fund project No. 1.1.1.4/17/I/007 “Development of the Infrastructure of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis in the Smart Specialization Areas – Biomedicine, Medical Technologies, Bio-pharmacy, and Biotechnology.” In the Biotechnology facility, a total of 4.45 million euros will be invested, of which 3.40 million euros will be contributed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), LIOS will invest 390 thousand euros, the state budget will provide 480 thousand euros, and 180 thousand euros will come from other public funding sources.

Source: Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis.

Abstract Submission

The Scientific Committee of the Congress has developed a two-day programme that includes thematic discussions, speeches, seminars, demonstrations and other activities of different formats. In addition, scientists, doctoral candidates and students from Latvia and of and Latvian origin all over the world are invited to submit abstracts in an open call for poster presentations.

Applications shall be submitted in Latvian and English or only in English by 31 March 2023 via the Congress website www.sciencecongress.lv.

Abstracts for posters

The Scientific Committee of the Congress is pleased to invite submissions of abstracts for poster presentations. In order to submit a poster to be exhibited at the Congress, an abstract (max. 200 words long) is to be submitted. In the abstract in between other crucial information, authors are encouraged to specify the potential of the research results to boost Latvia’s growth, e.g. technological development, improvement of people's wellbeing (physical and mental well-being), health, economy, and environment. Challenges and solutions to overcome them can be most successfully identified through interdisciplinary cooperation in research, as well as by cooperating with the industry and society (participatory research), therefore poster presentations under any field of science or interdisciplinary posters are welcomed. The Scientific Committee of the Congress invites authors to present their posters to also spark an interest in scientists from other fields.

Useful information

A cross-disciplinary international scientific jury panel will carry out a blind peer review of the poster applications in line with the objectives and topics of Congress. After the review and the initial selection process, applicants will be invited to prepare posters for presentation in digital format to be presented in the congress.

If the subject of the selected poster abstract corresponds to one of the three main topics of the congress – Green Transformation, Digital Transformation, Science Impact – the Scientific Committee of the Congress may invite these applicants to take part in the congress as a speaker (on the subject of the poster) in one of the parallel sessions, by presenting the matters of the study of the submitted poster abstract. In such cases, communication will be conducted separately after the initial selection.

Good luck! We are looking forward to meeting you at the 5th World Congress of Latvian Scientists “Research Latvia”!

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Source: Ministry of Education and Science. 

Technology is being developed in Latvia that will allow the production of building windows that will help to keep rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer, Latvian Television reported January 30.

Chromatic materials for smart windows and zero-energy buildings, developed by the University of Latvia's Institute of Solid State Physics, has been recognized by the Latvian Academy of Sciences as one of the most important achievements of the last year in Latvian science.

The material is a multi-layer coating that is thinner than the diameter of a human hair and is able to change its properties depending on external interaction, namely both temperature and lighting.

“We have developed a new material yttrium oxyhidride, which is a mixed anionic material. The main characteristic of this material is that it changes its optical properties when it is illuminated either with blue or ultraviolet lights. We can use this feature in smart windows as well as optical sensors,” said Mārtiņš Zubkins, lead researcher at LU CFI.

Source: Latvian researchers work on temp-smart windows, Latvian Public Broadcasting, Jan 30, 2023. 

See also: Winners of the annual Science Achievements’ Competition 2022 announced.

The Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) has announced winners of the annual Science Achievements’ Competition - top twelve achievements were selected from 55 eligible proposals that were submitted for evaluation.

Traditionally the achievements in science are divided in two groups – fundamental science and applied science; the achievements shortlisted for the winners group usually cover a wide scope of research areas – ranging from solid state physics and robotics, biomedicine, pharmacy and chemistry, engineering and agricultural sciences to literary science, philosophy, and economy.

List of the top 12 achievements in Latvian Science in 2022 [pdf].

About the competition

The year 2022 marks the 21st anniversary since the Latvian Academy of Sciences launched the annual science achievement competition. The principal aim of the competition since then has been: annual monitoring of the processes in Latvian science by assessing and naming the most significant achievements of the year. Also, the results and winners of the competition would be popularized among wider public thus contributing to science communication in Latvia. Since 2011, as the competition gained its popularity among researchers and the academic community, the winners are awarded diplomas, and a special awarding ceremony is held. In the following years the event's regular and numerous attendees include its supporters, sponsors, media representatives and stakeholders, and it has become the most festive event of the year that highlights and celebrates the excellence in Latvian science and research.

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Twenty five researchers were elected members of the Latvian Academy of Sciences at the General Meeting on 24 November 2022. The General Meeting also elected one honorary member.

Full members

Corresponding members

Foreign members

Jānis Vanags (Theology), Latvia.

On Thursday, November 24, 2022, the regular Autumn General Meeting of the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) is scheduled to convene beginning from 2PM. Conferring of the LAS Grand Medal and the elections of the LAS new members are on the agenda of the meeting.

Agenda

1. Introduction by the LAS President Ivars Kalviņš.
2. Awarding of the LAS Grand Medal to Year 2022 laureate Māra Grudule.
3. Laudatio for LAS Grand Medal Year 2022 laureate Māra Grudule by academician Benedikts Kalnačs.
4. “From Stenders’ soap to science”: academic lecture by Māra Grudule.
5. Awarding of the LAS Grand Medal Year 2022 laureate Olafs Daugulis.
6. Laudatio for LAS Grand Medal Year 2022 laureate Olafs Daugulis by academician Māris Turks.
7. “New methods in Carbon-hydrogen bond functionalization": academic lecture by Olafs Daugulis.
8. Announcement of the results of the LAS new members' elections. 

See also: LAS full member Māra Grudule and foreign member Olafs Daugulis to be conferred LAS Grand Medal 2022 (16 March 2022). 

The aim of ERA Chair project “Natural Products Research at Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis as a Driver for Excellence in Innovation (Natalion)” is to promote innovation excellence of LIOS by the establishment of Natural Products Research (NPR) group and implementation of LIOS Innovation hub as a complementary structural change. The aim of the project will be achieved under the competent guidance of the ERA Chair holder Dr. Stefano Donadio and collaboration with company NAICONS (Italy). Dr. Stefano Donadio is a scientist with an excellent track record in NPR and outstanding leadership skills. He is a founder and CEO of Biotech company NAICONS and has over 30 years of industrial experience in antibiotic discovery and development.

“Natural products have revitalized the interest of the drug discovery community as a result of impressive scientific and technological advances in the field. Natalion will be an efficient engine to develop new technologies and products with high innovation potential, and I am proud that NAICONS, with its powerful platform in natural products, will be part of the project. Natalion is expected to facilitate the institutional environment fostering innovations and entrepreneurial culture and to promote brain circulation for researchers and innovators,” says Dr. Stefano Donadio.

The excellence of research and innovation will be attained by setting up NPR group comprising high level scientists and integrating the operations into internal and external collaboration networks. Sourcing of natural products with wide spectrum of biological activity will strongly synergize with the existing LIOS competencies in drug discovery.

ERA Chairs are grant schemes under Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence actions of H2020 and Horizon Europe framework programmes. The grants are focused on implementation of institutional changes and increasing research capacity in Widening countries. LIOS is proud to be the first Latvian research organization receiving ERA Chair grant, which will contribute to its ambitious goal of becoming one of the leading EU research centers. 

About LIOS: LIOS is the leading drug discovery and development center in the Baltics with a broad spectrum of expertise including medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, bioanalytics, computational modeling, biophysical chemistry, structural biology, and process chemistry. LIOS has a strong focus on collaboration with industry and is a part of a wide academic network including 11 EU funded research consortia and EU-OPENSCREEN ERIC.

About NAICONS: NAICONS Srl is a biotechnology company based in Milan, Italy. Thanks to a world-class technology platform and knowhow on Natural Products NAICONS is building the Micro4all platform, the first Molecule Search Engine that is going to disrupt the Drug Discovery Process.

On October 17-19 2022, the academic Ion Tiginyan, President of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, payed a visit in Riga. On Monday, October 17, the Moldovan delegation, including the Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Republic of Latvia Andrian Roșa, visited the Latvian Academy of Sciences (LAS) where it was welcomed by the president of Latvian Academy of Sciences Prof. Ivars Kalviņš as well as representatives of the LAS administration.

The signing of the Scientific Cooperation Agreement between the Academy of Sciences of Moldova and the Latvian Academy of Sciences, which will provide a solid platform for joining the efforts of the scientific communities of the both  states for development in various fields of cooperation, took place in the conclusion of the meeting.

On Tuesday, October 18, the academic Ion Tiginyan attended the meeting of the LAS Senate and delivered a comprehesive lecture on the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, its structure, history and the current activities.

Also, on October 18, the President of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova Professor of the Technical University of Moldova, Ion Tiginyan visited the Institute of Solid State Physics of the University of Latvia. Prof. Tiginyan delivered an academic lectures and met with the management of the Institute, had a discussion with the scientists and visited research laboratories.