News

From 24 to 26 September 2025, Aeromart Nagoya – the flagship aerospace B2B event in Japan will take place in Nagoya. This is one of the most significant international business events in the aviation and aerospace sector. Over three days, the forum will bring together decision-makers, companies, and research institutes from around the world, offering high-level networking and cooperation opportunities. The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) has prepared a brochure featuring Latvian engineering companies and research institutes, including the Latvian State Institute of Wood...

On 19 September 2025, the first round of the Bio-based Innovation Student Challenge Europe (BISC-E) 2025 European Final took place online. The competition brought together 13 national winners from across Europe. Latvia was represented by the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry (LSIWC) student team “need(less)”, who presented their project “PolystyreNO – innovative bio-based food trays.” The team’s proposed solution is biodegradable composite trays for meat packaging, combining polylactic acid (PLA) with wood fibers and antimicrobial properties. The aim is to ensure functional durability...

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...

Dr. Jānis Rižikovs, Head of the Biorefinery Laboratory and Leading Researcher at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Corresponding Member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, is one of those scientists who can see value where others see only residues. His team research on birch outer bark and other forestry by-products has led to innovative solutions – from extracts used in cosmetics to the world’s first fully bio-based adhesive for plywood with the highest water-resistance class. Under his leadership and collaboration, technologies have been developed that not only reduce dependence...

At the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, the development of new biomaterials continues. Funding from the research and innovation project competition of the “Biomedical and Photonics Research Platform for Innovative Product Development” (BioPhoT) has been awarded to our institute’s leading researcher of the Cellulose Laboratory, Dr. chem. Laura Andže, for the project: “OsteoWood. Next-Gen Bone Fixation from Birch: A Sustainable Pathway from Forest to Functional Implant” In our institute’s laboratory, wood densification using a glycerin bath is being carried out – a process that...

The Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry and its Scientific Director, Dr. Uģis Cābulis, have been shortlisted for the Plastics Industry Awards 2025 in the category Polyurethane Innovation. This is an important international recognition that highlights the institute’s competence and contribution to advanced materials research and development. The Plastics Industry Awards, established in 2001 and held annually in London, are among Europe’s most prestigious events, bringing together companies and researchers from across the sector to celebrate excellence in innovation, sustainability, and...