The University of Latvia (UL) and SCHWENK Latvija SIA, Latvia’s leading building materials manufacturer, have signed a long-term cooperation agreement marking the establishment of the Industrial Decarbonisation Centre of Excellence (IDCE).
“The signing of this agreement marks the creation of a shared platform for long-term cooperation between the University and industry. Industrial decarbonisation – the reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gas emissions – is one of the most important areas of development for Europe and Latvia, and addressing it requires both scientific expertise and the practical experience of industry,” emphasises Enno Ence, Vice-Rector for Development at the University of Latvia.
The agreement provides for the establishment of long-term strategic cooperation between the University and industry in research, education, innovation, data analytics and technology transfer, with the aim of developing practical solutions in the field of industrial decarbonisation. At the same time, the agreement lays the foundation for the creation of the Industrial Decarbonisation Centre of Excellence – a long-term cooperation platform that will connect the University of Latvia’s academic and research capacity with SCHWENK’s industrial challenges.
“Decarbonisation is one of the most important priorities both for our company and for the industry as a whole. However, the transition towards more climate-neutral production is a long-term process that requires close cooperation between industry and science. We are therefore pleased with our partnership with the University of Latvia, which will enable greater involvement of Latvia’s academic potential in addressing industry challenges, developing new knowledge and creating practical decarbonisation solutions for the future,” says Reinhold Schneider, CEO of SCHWENK Northern Europe and Chair of the Management Board of SCHWENK Latvija.
The aim of the IDCE will be to promote the development, testing, validation and practical implementation of new decarbonisation solutions. The cooperation will focus on topics such as industrial decarbonisation, carbon dioxide capture, storage and utilisation technologies, energy efficiency, sustainable cement and concrete technologies, the use of circular resources, as well as joint research and innovation projects.
The agreement places particular emphasis on involving students, doctoral candidates and researchers in addressing real-world industry challenges. The cooperation will provide internship opportunities, industry-related topics for academic papers, guest lectures, workshops, case studies and other educational activities involving both University of Latvia students and researchers and SCHWENK experts.
SCHWENK Latvija is Latvia’s leading building materials manufacturer and operates one of the most modern cement plants in Europe. The company is active in the Baltic and Nordic markets and is committed to reducing the construction sector’s environmental impact by developing low-carbon technologies, resource-efficient production processes and innovative building materials.
Following the signing of the agreement, a vacancy for a cooperation programme project manager is also expected to be announced. The project manager’s main responsibility will be to coordinate the activities of the IDCE and ensure close cooperation between University of Latvia researchers and SCHWENK experts.
