On 8 May, the first BioPhoT call for Research and Innovation Projects (RIPs) closed. Over 122 RIP applications were received. The first round of evaluations has started, with short presentations to a panel of experts in late May and the final results of the second round expected in early October.
"The number of applications we have received shows the relevance and importance of such a funding platform. 77 applications came from university researchers, 45 from research institutes. Most of the applications were submitted by BioPhoT platform members, but applications were also received from Daugavpils University and Latvian University of Life Sciences and Technologies research groups," says the platform's leader, Osvalds Pugovičs, Deputy Director of the Latvian Organic Synthesis Institute (OSI).
This call gave scientists and industry in the fields of biomedicine, medical technology, pharmaceuticals, photonics, smart materials and the Smart Specialisation Strategy for Engineering Systems, or RIS3, the opportunity to apply for a share of a total €6 million in funding from the national budget.
In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, the applications received will be evaluated in accordance with the administrative criteria. The evaluation of administratively eligible RIP applications will take place in two rounds. In the first round, an independent panel of experts will analyse the innovative potential of the submitted ideas and their compliance with market requirements, while in the second round, experts selected by the Latvian Council of Science will carry out scientific expertise.
Short presentations of the RIPs submitted to the first call for proposals will take place from 26 to 28 May at the Moon hall of Science and Innovation Centre of Riga Technical University, Kipsalas iela 6A. The list of the order of presentations will be available on 21 May. All applicants should send their presentations by 21 May inclusive.
The first round of RIP applications will be evaluated by five industry and commercialisation experts. The competition offers up to €200,000 per approved project, with a 12-month implementation period, extendable by three months.
The first call is part of a broader programme of BioPhoT platform activities, which will include two more calls for proposals by 2026. The total funding for innovation projects will exceed €12 million, while almost €5 million will be dedicated to improving scientists' innovation skills, including training on technology transfer, commercialisation and intellectual property protection.
At least 35 new technologies are expected to be developed by 2032, some of which will reach the market demonstration or commercialisation stage. The long-term goal of the Platform is to strengthen Latvia's science and innovation system and promote technology-intensive entrepreneurship.
BioPhoT is coordinated by OSI and implemented by the Institute of Electronics and Computer Science, the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, the University of Latvia, the Institute of Solid State Physics, the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, the Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment Research Institute "BIOR", Riga Stradins University and Riga Technical University.
The project "Biomedical and Photonics Research Platform for Innovative Products" or "BioPhoT" is implemented under the National Research Programme "Innovation Fund - Long-term Research Programme". Platform number: IVPP-EM-Innovation-2024/1-0002.
