LSIWC at the EXPO 2025 Osaka Conference on Innovations in Aerospace Manufacturing
Latvia has made significant progress in the aerospace sector, especially since becoming an Associate Member State of the European Space Agency (ESA). This has enabled our country to actively participate in international space programs, strengthening technological capabilities and contributing to global space missions.
In this context, a particularly important event was the conference “How innovations in aerospace manufacturing can contribute to sustainability and environmental preservation”, organized by the Latvian delegation at EXPO 2025 Osaka. The conference was opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Baiba Braže, highlighting Latvia’s readiness for international cooperation in the field of space innovations.
Dr.sc.ing. Uģis Cābulis, Scientific Director of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, delivered a presentation on “An approach based on the European Green Deal trends in the development of cryogenic insulation for space launchers and civil aviation”. The presentation emphasized the institute’s expertise in developing unique materials, including internationally recognized research carried out in cooperation with the European Space Agency and ArianeGroup, resulting in cryogenic insulation materials that can withstand temperatures as low as -253 °C and are already applied in the Ariane-6 launcher.
Dr. Uģis Cābulis: “Participation in this conference was both scientifically and politically very important, as it gave the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry the opportunity to demonstrate its experience and capacity to a broad international audience.”
The conference also featured the Latvian company NewBaseCams, represented by Dmitry Chulkov, who presented advanced stabilized monitoring solutions for aviation. In addition, Solvita Gulbe, Head of the Export Services Division at the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), outlined Latvia’s competitive advantages for business development in the aerospace sector.
A highlight of the event was the panel discussion “Vision from Space, Foundation from Finance: Innovation Linking Japan, Latvia and the World”, which addressed how innovations connect science, industry, and finance, fostering new international partnerships.
We would like to thank the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) for their support and especially our colleagues Andris Alksnis, Juta Pīrāga, and Solvita Gulbe for their cooperation during EXPO. We are proud that our institute had the opportunity to represent Latvia and also to receive a warm welcome at the Baltic Pavilion, which at EXPO 2025 Osaka, under the theme “We Are One”, highlights the interaction between nature, people, and technology.
