Events

The webinar is aimed at students who are considering participation in the Latvian final for the Bio-based Innovations Student Challenge Europe BISC-E. The event will be held in Latvian. Time: 9th January, 2026 16.00-17.00 Topic: "Why is it worth to start a Deep Tech Start-Up?" Speaker: Sigvards Krongorns, CastPrint foeunder and representative of "Verge HealthTech Fund" On-line: Google Meet Registration: https://forms.gle/ seXYp7eyRTKup6MQ8

On 14 January 2026 at 10:00, a seminar dedicated to polyurethane chemistry and technologies will take place at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, with a particular focus on sustainable, functional and environmentally friendly materials. The seminar will feature presentations by researchers from the National Research Council of Italy (CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche), the largest public research institution in Italy, which carries out interdisciplinary research covering both fundamental science and industrial applications. Speakers Letizia Verdolotti Dr. Letizia Verdolotti is a researcher at the Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials (IPCB-CNR) of the National Research Council of Italy. Her scientific work is focused on the development of sustainable, multifunctional polymer composites and hybrid materials, using renewable and biologically derived raw materials. Dr. Verdolotti’s research covers the development of composite foams as well as the study of materials with enhanced mechanical, thermal and acoustic properties, intended for applications in construction, energy efficiency, cultural heritage conservation, environmental and transport sectors, including smart materials for structural health monitoring. Federica Recupido PhD Federica Recupido is a researcher at the National Research Council of Italy. She obtained her degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Salerno and her PhD from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Part of her doctoral research was carried out within the European Joint Doctoral Programme Complex Wetting Phenomena (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions). Since 2021, her research has focused on the development of polymer composite materials. Seminar programme Presentations on next-generation polyurethane materials and their sustainable applications Discussion The seminar is open to professors, lecturers, students and industry representatives. Interested participants are kindly invited to register in advance. Registration link: Seminar: Polyurethane Chemistry and Technologies

On 26 January 2026, the BioPhoT Industry Day will take place at the University of Latvia (UL) Academic Centre, House of Science, Jelgavas Street 3, Riga. The event will offer an opportunity to meet professionals in the field and learn about the latest BioPhoT research, solutions, and collaboration opportunities. Companies are invited to submit their technological challenges for the event in the dedicated Industry Challenge section on the BioPhoT website by 30 December. More information about this initiative and the benefits of participating will be provided in thematic webinars on 11 December. The aim of the BioPhoT Industry Day is to foster closer cooperation between science and industry by strengthening the fields of biomedicine, medical technologies, pharmaceuticals, photonics, smart materials, technology and engineering systems, thus creating a favourable environment for new collaborative projects, technological solutions and innovative ideas. The event will bring together companies, research institutions and public-sector experts to promote closer science–industry cooperation, present ongoing BioPhoT projects and new ideas eligible for BioPhoT funding, and discuss practical models for collaboration. Thematic working sessions will highlight current sector challenges and research opportunities. The event is free of charge for all participants; registration: https://luma.com/i81hmsl0 For industry partners, this is an opportunity to gain direct insight into the BioPhoT research and innovation portfolio and to identify collaboration pathways with the highest added value: The BioPhoT Industry Challenge is an initiative inviting companies to submit specific industry-related technological challenges that require specialized research, laboratory infrastructure, or high-level scientific expertise. Selected challenges will be presented during the thematic working sessions at Industry Day, enabling companies to present their needs directly to researchers and to initiate targeted collaborations. What is Industry Challenge and how to apply – in English The deadline for companies to submit applications for participation in the Industry Challenge initiative at Industry Day is 30 December.

The first International Conference for Young Scientists on Biorefinery Technologies and Products "BTechPro!" was established in 2022 by the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, and so far it has gained a lot of recognition and proven to be a valuable platform for students and early stage researchers to actively present their research topics, attend workshops and plenary lectures, and participate in networking activities. The previous BTechPro! edition gathered almost 100 participants from 14 countries. Information about the conference is available on www.btechpro.lv. The next BTechPro! conference will be held in 2026, and more details will be published soon. The organisers may be contacted by e-mail btechpro@kki.lv (for participants, sponsors, lecturers, partners).

The 22nd Annual Conference of the Northern European Network for Wood Science and Engineering (WSE) will take place on September 15–16, 2026, in Riga, Latvia. It will be organized by the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry in cooperation with Riga Technical University. In conjunction with the WSE 2026 conference, a training seminar for students and early-career researchers will be held on September 14, 2026, in Riga. It will be jointly organized by the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry together with the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava.” The conferences organized by the WSE network are held annually with the aim of promoting the professional development of early-career researchers and establishing contacts between research groups working in the field of wood science and engineering. If you wish to express interest in supporting the WSE 2026 conference or have any other questions, please contact the organizers at wse2026@kki.lv Conference website: https://sites.google.com/ kki.lv/wse2026/