On 24 November, the first BioPhoT conference “BioPhoT - Latvia's Innovation Launchpad” will take place. It will introduce the biomedical and photonics industry, science policy makers and the scientific community to the innovation projects launched in Latvia and the future plans of the platform, offer insights into a number of international success stories in the sector, and stimulate expert discussions on the importance of developing innovation in a broader context.
“BioPhoT is not just a project - it's a reform to help Latvia's scientific ideas become products with a real impact on people's lives and the country's economy. Our goal is to create an environment where researchers and entrepreneurs come together to create innovations with exportability and sustainable value,“says Osvalds Pugovičs, BioPhoT Platform Manager.
The conference will take place on 24 November from 9.00 to 13.30 at the Science and Innovation Centre of Riga Technical University (RTU), Moon Hall. Working language - English.
Conference programme:
Free registration - https://luma.com/nekvft5h
Representatives of international and Latvian companies, whose scientific ideas have already been turned into commercialised products or who have helped foreign partners to implement their innovations in collaboration with Latvian researchers, will share their success stories at the conference.
The panel discussion “From academia to commercial value - highlights and pitfalls, role of smartly selected support instruments” will highlight the need for a national platform for the development of science and its translation into practice.
Special guests -Scott L. Dax, former CerSci Therapeutics Scientific Director, will present on how innovation is driven by “Build-to-Buy” a strategy for biotechnology, one of the world's leadingartglass manufacturers, Latvian company Ltd. Groglass, as well as Ltd. Cellbox Labs - a company developing new solutions in cell biotechnology using innovative microfluidics solutions.
At the conference, everyone will have the opportunity to get to know the first 40 research and innovation projects (RIPs) that have been funded by the BioPhoT platform. These include innovative approaches to sepsis, cancer and infection diagnostics, new devices, sensors and diagnostics, fibre optic sensors, fluorescent coatings and infrared spectroscopy, innovative biomaterials and sustainable composites, as well as PIPs related to environmental and energy topics. The best posters in the categories “Biomedicine” and “Photonics” will be awarded.
Participants will have the opportunity to hear the Central Statistical Office (CSO) report “CSO - a source of valuable data - opportunities and challenges”, which will show how data can become a resource for the development of new products and services. The conference will also include the signing of a cooperation agreement between Latvenergo and RTU on the implementation of the Industrial Professor project. Presentations by Normunds Bergs, President of the Latvian Electrical Engineering and Electronics Industry Association, and Vitālijs Skrīvelis, Chairman of the Board of the Latvian Chemical and Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs Association, are also expected.
