News

The Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry is currently hosting a visiting researcher from Poland, Dr. R afał Malinowski, an Associate Professor at the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute for Engineering of Polymer Materials and Dyes (IMPiB), located in Toruń, Poland. This visit marks a significant step toward fostering closer scientific cooperation in the development of polyurethane (PU) foams from renewable raw materials. During his stay, Dr. Malinowski is welcomed and mentored by Dr. Miķelis Kirpļuks, a leading researcher at LSIWC and expert in the development of sustainable PU...

On May 13, 2025, Dr. sc.ing. Uģis Cābulis, Scientific Director of the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC), and Dr. chem. Māris Lauberts, the leading researcer of the Laboratory of Lignin Chemistry participated in an online meeting with experts from Metsä Group – one of Europe’s leading forest industry companies. The meeting was held as part of the BIC Open Innovation Challenge, where Metsä had issued a scientific call to find new, sustainable and high-value applications for softwood bark. The solution proposed by Dr. Māris Lauberts was selected as one of the most promising, and...

We are pleased and proud to announce that on May 13, academic elections were held at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry. We warmly congratulate the colleagues who have been elected—whether for the first time or re-elected—to academic positions: Leading Researcher: Dr.sc.ing. Sarmīte Janceva Researchers: Ph.D. Ralfs Pomilovskis and Mg.sc.ing. Beatrise Stūre-Šķēla Scientific Assistants: Mikus Kampuss and Ksenija Radovska May this new stage in your academic career inspire new discoveries, scientific achievements, and professional success!

We’re excited to share progress from our original project developing innovative mycelium biocomposites (MB) using fungal hyphae and plant residual biomass. Our goal is to create sustainable materials with enhanced physicomechanical and metal sorption properties, offering eco-friendly alternatives for construction, packaging, and environmental remediation. Project Highlights: Material Development: We’ve successfully created MB samples from wheat straw and birch sanding dust substrates, utilizing the fungus Trametes versicolor. These composites are further enhanced with natural additives like...

Yesterday, on May 8, the application period for the first “BioPhoT” Research and Innovation Project (RIP) call officially closed, with 122 submissions received — a strong testament to the high level of interest and the need for such a platform within Latvia’s science and innovation ecosystem. Researchers and industry representatives from the RIS3 priority areas — biomedicine, medical technologies, pharmacy, photonics, smart materials, and engineering systems — are competing for a share of the €6 million funding pool. The project evaluation will take place in two stages: first, an assessment of...

The development of the new resin production facility in the Bolderāja district of Riga is progressing rapidly. By early May, the structural framework of the two-story building had been completed, and the first production equipment was installed. In this new facility, Latvijas Finieris will partially replace fossil-based raw materials with lignin — a natural wood-derived component. This will reduce the share of fossil inputs in phenol-formaldehyde resins, which are currently used in the production of panel materials, thermal insulation, sandpaper, and many other everyday products. The plant’s...