On 6 October, the second call for Research and Innovation Projects (PIPs) of the Research Platform on Biomedicine and Photonics for Innovative Products ("BioPhoT") was launched. This call for proposals has an indicative amount of €4,826,110 available for researchers to implement innovative solutions in two areas of the Latvian Smart Strategy (RIS3) - biomedicine, medical technologies and pharmaceuticals, as well as photonics and smart materials research, technology and engineering.
Each Research and Innovation Project (RIP) can receive up to €190 000 and has an implementation period of 8 months, with the possibility of extending it for a further three months without additional funding. The PIP leader applies the National Scientific Activity Information System (NZDIS). The deadline for applications is 7 November 2025.
On 7 October, the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis will host an information seminar on the preparation and submission of applications. For more information on applying for funding, the Terms of Reference and information on the information workshops organised by the Platform, please visit the Platform's website.
The PIP leader is obliged to apply for a mentoring consultation to assess the technological readiness of the project before submission. Mentoring can also be used for the preparation of the first round application and the presentation to the industry panel. To apply for a mentoring consultation, please visit the project website.
"The first BioPhoT project competition was a striking testament to the competitiveness of Latvian science and its readiness to tackle global challenges with locally generated, innovative ideas. The diversity of the 40 approved projects reveals that our researchers are not only rich in ideas but also ready to go beyond the academic framework, convincingly demonstrating the commercial potential of their solutions. Latvia already has strong, collaborative research teams which, with the right support mechanisms, can achieve technological breakthroughs. Innovation starts with the courage to think differently - and we saw this courage, this strategic vision of the future, in the ideas, in the presentations and in the collaboration between the teams. It is this approach - focused, results-oriented and rooted in scientific excellence - that is the way to strengthen Latvia's competitiveness in high-tech areas. Our common task now is to help these ideas develop into real solutions," said Osvalds Pugovičs, BioPhoT Platform Manager.
Applications will be evaluated in two rounds. In the first round, a panel of experts will analyse the innovative potential of the ideas and their relevance to market and/or user needs. PIP applicants will be asked to present their idea in a five-minute presentation, followed by a 10-minute question-and-answer session. In the second round, experts from the Latvian Research Council will assess the scientific quality, impact and feasibility of the applications.
"The BioPhoT" platform aims to bridge the gap between science and the commercial sector to develop new technologies and promote their commercialisation. Alongside the calls for projects, BioPhoT offers a wide range of free training programmes providing practical knowledge on technology transfer, intellectual property protection and commercialisation of innovations.
The first call for proposals launched by the Platform supported 40 projects, totalling €8 million. They cover a wide range of topics, from sepsis diagnostics for newborns and biomaterials for bone regeneration to sensors for assessing the quality of seafood and smart additives for asphalt. The most active project promoters are the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, the Institute of Solid State Physics and the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis. Support was also given to regional universities - scientists from Daugavpils and Jelgava.
By 2032, BioPhoT will have developed at least 35 new technologies, more than half of which will have progressed to validation in real or full-scale conditions (TRL 5-6), and at least four to commercialisation.
The project "Biomedical and Photonics Research Platform for Innovative Products" or "BioPhoT" is implemented under the long-term national research programme "Innovation Fund - Long-term Research Programme" funded by the Ministry of Economics. Platform number: IVPP-EM-Innovation-2024/1-0002.
The Platform is expected to run until at least 2026, with the potential to extend funding in subsequent phases until 2032.
