News | Latvijas Valsts koksnes ķīmijas institūts

ZEST project partners gather in Riga – shaping the future of Europe’s bioeconomy!

On June 11–12, the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry hosted the 3rd General Assembly of the ZEST project, funded by Horizon Europe. Over the course of two days, the project partners:reviewed the progress achieved so far,planned the next steps,and participated in practical workshops to strengthen collaboration.At the end of the meeting, guests explored the broader research activities of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry beyond the scope of the project.

From Residue to Potential: How Wood Becomes the Foundation for Outstanding Master’s Theses

Birch sawdust, lignocellulosic by-products, plastic waste, or seemingly unnecessary materials become the foundation for research whose outcomes reach far beyond the laboratory doors. This is vividly demonstrated by three master’s theses defended in 2025, all developed under the supervision of researchers at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, and all of which received excellent evaluations. Valērija Kudrjavceva, a student at the Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Latvia, developed her thesis under the supervision of Dr.habil.chem. Galija...

The co-author team including Dr. Jānis Rižikovs receives the “Outstanding Paper Award”

Conventional wood coatings continue to rely heavily on fossil-derived synthetic polymers and organic solvents, posing significant environmental and health risks. The development of sustainable alternatives is increasingly prioritised across materials science, the wood sector, and the bioeconomy. In the article Fully bio-based water-resistant wood coatings derived from tree bark ( Materials Horizons, 2024, 11, 6504–6515), co-authored by Dr. Jānis Rižikovs from the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, a novel solvent-free concept is introduced: hybrid aqueous dispersions based solely on...

Italian Students Explore Wood Chemistry in Latvia: Erasmus+ Experience at LSIWC Laboratories

From May 26 to June 20, 2025, the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry hosted three students from the Italian Istituto di Istruzione Superiore “Enrico Mattei” as part of an Erasmus+ mobility initiative. Melissa Saturno, Sara Manes, and Francesco Delle Donne spent four weeks exploring the daily routines of scientific work while improving their practical laboratory skills at LSIWC. Hands-On Work in Real Laboratories The students were engaged in three of the institute’s leading research laboratories – Wood Degradation and Protection, Biorefinery, and Polymer Laboratories. Their activities...

BioPhoT Research and Innovation Call for proposals - Round 2

Applications are now open for the second evaluation round of the Research and Innovation Projects (RIPs) call. The authors of the 79 PIP applications that have reached the qualification threshold in the first round of evaluation are invited to submit their full project applications for scientific evaluation by the expert panel of the Latvian Science Council. Applications must be submitted by 11 July 2025 in the section "Open call for research and innovation projects 2025 of the Platform "Biomedical and Photonics Research Platform for Innovative Products" (BioPhoT)", (No IVPP-EM-Innovation-2024...

LSIWC achievement featured in the leading international polymer industry journal Urethanes Technology International

The Summer 2025 issue of Urethanes Technology International includes a comprehensive article highlighting the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry’s contribution to the development of Europe’s latest space launch vehicle – Ariane 6. “Since 2005, the LSIWC’s Polymer Laboratory, in cooperation with ArianeGroup and the European Space Agency (ESA), has developed polyurethane cryogenic insulation capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -253 °C. This insulation was designed, tested, and validated across all Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 3–9), and was successfully used in the inaugural...

POLYMERS-5B: One Year on the Road Toward a Circular Future

A year ago, the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry launched an ambitious European initiative — POLYMERS-5B. The project aims to transform biological waste into sustainable, biodegradable polymers. Now, after a year of intensive work, the project team proudly highlights its first major achievements. Supported by the Horizon Europe program, this project offers a sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics, aligning closely with the European Union’s vision for a circular bioeconomy. It utilizes underexploited agricultural and food processing residues — such as tomato and olive pomace...