News

With support from the State Forest Development Fund, a new documentary, The Molecule of Wood, is being made to explore the sustainable use of wood resources and Latvia’s potential in the circular economy. The film is being produced by the creative agency Ai Production Latvia on commission from the association Latvijas Koks. The Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC) is also involved in the project. From Wood Chemistry’s History to Today’s Scientific Achievements At least 40 minutes long, the film will tell the story of wood chemistry in Latvia, from its historical roots to today’s...

Arnis Kokorevičs, Senior Expert at the Latvian Council of Science and Doctor of Chemistry, has been awarded the Cabinet of Ministers’ Certificate of Recognition for his significant contribution to the development of Latvian science, the improvement of research administration, analysis and evaluation, the implementation of research projects, and the integration of Latvian science into the European Research Area. Arnis Kokorevičs has a long-standing connection with the history of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry. He spent most of his scientific career at the Institute, serving as...

In October, Jānis Rižikovs, Head of the Biorefinery Laboratory, and Aigars Pāže, Leading Researcher at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC), presented the project “Research into the Production and Applications of High-Specific-Surface-Area Betulin Particles from Birch Bark” at the REGIOSTARS Awards 2026 final in Brussels. The project aimed to develop a technology for obtaining multifunctional betulin microparticles from birch bark, transforming a wood-processing by-product into a high-value raw material. Of a record 274 applications, 25 projects were selected as finalists. The...

Researchers Ramūnas Tupčiauskas and Andris Bērziņš from the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC) participated in the 17th International Symposium on Agriculture, AGROSYM 2026, held in Jahorina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 6 to 9 October. Both researchers delivered oral presentations in the “Forestry and Agroforestry” section, presenting their research on bio-based coatings and the use of wood-based panels in building façades. In his presentation, “Performance of bio-based coatings on façade panels: results after one-year outdoor weathering,” Andris Bērziņš presented research...

The 24th International Baltic Polymer Symposium 2026 (BPS 2026) took place at Riga Technical University from 30 September to 2 October. The conference brought together more than 90 polymer science researchers and industry experts from nine countries to discuss current developments in the field, from polymer synthesis and processing to innovative composites and circular economy solutions. A team of researchers from the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC) contributed eight research studies covering bio-based polymers, the valorisation of waste and by-products, and the development...

From September 21 to 23, the international conference “Sustainable Waste Management in Materials Science” (SWMMS 2026) took place in Poznań, Poland, bringing together researchers working on sustainable materials, waste valorisation, recycling and circular economy solutions. The Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC) was represented by three colleagues from the Polymer Laboratory – Dārta Līna Eihe , Ralfs Pomilovskis and Anna Rēzija Āboltiņa. During the conference, Dārta Līna Eihe received the Best Young Scientist Poster Award , while Ralfs Pomilovskis received the Best Poster Award...