RTU to Implement Latvian-Swiss Project for the Development of Advanced Concrete and Asphalt Materials and Technologies

Riga Technical University (RTU), in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), is launching an ambitious research project, LACHMAT, aimed at developing advanced concrete and asphalt materials and technologies. The project is open to high school students and all-level university students, including PhD candidates and post-doctoral researchers. An informational seminar will be held on 27 November at 16:00 to present the project's objectives and outline the opportunities and benefits for students and faculty involved.

The event will take place both in person at the RTU Faculty of Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, Ķīpsalas iela 6A, Room 131, and online via MS Teams (Meeting ID: 345 754 478 334; Passcode: QX9VG7S4).

The event will be conducted in English.

Students interested in participating are encouraged to complete a questionnaire to receive further information.

Running from 2025 to 2029, the project focuses on developing sustainable and advanced road materials. The research will include extending the life cycle of asphalt pavements using data from embedded sensors, creating 3D-printed concrete from local raw materials, enhancing concrete performance with fibre reinforcement, and more.

To build research capacity, the project will engage 16 undergraduate students, 8 postgraduate students, 4 PhD candidates, and 3 postdoctoral researchers, all of whom will collaborate closely with experts from RTU and Empa. Additionally, 16 high school students will gain early research experience.

Students participating in the project will have the unique opportunity to visit Empa's laboratories in Switzerland to conduct their research. PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers are to spend up to a year in Switzerland, while Master's students will undertake shorter research visits.

Additionally, the project plans to carry out Winter Schools, facilitate participation in international scientific conferences, and promote knowledge transfer to industry, among other activities.

LACHMAT is one of two projects under the «Applied Research» programme, which aims to enhance applied research capabilities and foster collaboration between Latvia and Switzerland in the fields of innovative materials, information and communication technologies (ICT), and smart energy. On November 13, the agreement for the programme's implementation was signed by Mr Martin Michelet, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Latvia, and Mr Armands Eberhards, the Deputy State Secretary for European Union (EU) Funds at the Ministry of Finance. Earlier this year, the Framework Agreement for the Latvia-Switzerland Cooperation Programme 2023 was signed by Latvian Minister of Finance Arvils Ascheradens and Dominic Paravacini, the Swiss Government's Trade Representative. The agreement focuses on strengthening science and education, children's healthcare, and environmental issues.

The «Applied Research» programme is financed with €12.3 million, of which 85% comes from Swiss funding and 15% from the Latvian state budget. The programme will enhance the research and innovation capacity in Latvia, supporting economic transformation and sustainable growth. Latvian research institutions will collaborate with Swiss counterparts on joint projects, improving research quality and increasing the number of highly skilled professionals with advanced technological expertise.

The program also features activities designed to spark interest and deepen understanding of advanced technologies among young people, particularly girls.