Conference “BTechPro2026” to Bring Together Young Scientists from Around the World in Riga and Sigulda

From May 6 to 8, the international conference for young scientists “BTechPro2026”, organized by the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC), will take place in Riga and Sigulda for the third time. The conference is dedicated to biorefinery technologies and products and will bring together researchers from 14 countries to discuss, exchange ideas, and explore the latest trends in the bioeconomy sector.

The first day of the conference will be dedicated to workshops, where participants will get to know each other and work in small groups. During the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about creating memorable presentations, protecting intellectual property, and exploring Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approaches across different industries.

The first day of the conference will also feature a panel discussion dedicated to the 80th anniversary of LSIWC, titled “Technology Transfer and Collaboration”. The discussion will include Vita Balode-Andrews (Investment and Development Agency of Latvia), Nelo Emerencia (Bio-based Industries Consortium), Aigars Jirgensons (Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis), and Laura Andže (LSIWC). The discussion will be moderated by Kristīne Meile, Leading Researcher at LSIWC.

“This conference brings together young scientists from different countries, creating an international environment for the exchange of ideas and experience, while also providing an opportunity to discuss the most pressing challenges in the bioeconomy sector. At the same time, it serves as a platform for building new connections and developing long-term collaborations,” emphasizes Kristīne Meile, conference organizer and Leading Researcher at LSIWC.

During the following days, the participants will travel to Sigulda, where they will have the opportunity to attend several lectures. For example, Secretary General of BOEAST Initiative, Barna Kovacs will speak about the importance of investing in research and innovation in the BIOEAST region. Meanwhile, Laila Silamiķele, researcher at the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, will explore how rethinking practices, evaluation systems, and research culture can create a more equitable, trustworthy, and sustainable scientific ecosystem.

The conference will also provide young scientists with the opportunity to give short oral presentations introducing their research to the audience. This is an excellent opportunity to present their work, receive valuable feedback, and establish new collaborations.

The event will also host the Latvian final of the “Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge - Europe” (BISC-E), where two teams — Vitralux and PLA-FiberLoop — will compete for the opportunity to participate in the European finals.

Special thanks to the conference supporters: Latvijas Finieris, Surfactor Germany GmbH, QUANTUM LATVIJA, and Biotecha Latvia. The conference is also supported by the researchLatvia initiative, the Latvian Association of Young Researchers, and the BIOEAST initiative.