26 research projects funded in BioPhoT second call
“The 26 highest ranked projects in the second BioPhoT Research and Innovation Project (RIP) call will receive funding, as decided by the Platform's Project Steering Group on 20 February.
A total of 99 project applications were submitted to the second call for proposals, from which the strongest proposals with the highest innovation potential and scientific quality were selected after two rounds of evaluation.
On average, funded projects scored 84% out of a maximum possible score in the innovative potential assessment (Round 1) and 87% out of a maximum possible score in the scientific assessment (Round 2).
Most of the supported projects - seven - will be carried out by research groups from the Institute of Solid State Physics at the University of Latvia. The University of Latvia has five supported projects, followed by the Institute of Organic Synthesis and Riga Technical University (RTU) with four each. Two projects each will be implemented by teams from the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre and Riga Stradiņš University, and one each by teams from the Institute of Electronics and Computer Science and Ventspils University College.
First round The projects were evaluated by a panel of industry and commercialisation experts, analysing the innovative potential of the ideas, their market prospects and their relevance to users' needs. In the second round, the applications were scientifically assessed by experts from the Latvian Science Council.
The second call will invest €4,710,859, with each project receiving up to €190,000 in funding for eight months of research and innovation activities. The Platform aims to foster the development of high value-added technologies in the fields of biomedicine, medical technologies, pharmaceuticals, photonics and smart materials, bridging the gap between science and the commercial sector.
On 24 February, the RTU Science and Innovation Centre at Ķīpsalas iela 8a will host the second face-to-face project evaluation analysis workshop, where interested parties will have the opportunity to learn more about the PIP application evaluation process and the conclusions of the experts involved. Registration for the seminar is available at: https://luma.com/9nio1zds.
Since the launch of the platform, 223 PIP applications have been received over the two calls, demonstrating the strong interest of scientists in this initiative. The first call has already supported 40 PIP. Around a quarter of these projects are biomedical and healthcare-related, such as innovative approaches to sepsis, cancer and infection diagnostics. The same number of projects represent medical technologies, including the development of new devices, sensors and diagnostic solutions. There is also a strong focus on photonics and optical technologies, solutions for fibre optic sensors, fluorescent coatings and infrared spectroscopy. Eight other projects are on smart materials, including innovative biomaterials and sustainable composites, and four on environmental and energy topics.
Supported projects:
| Application ID | Name (LV) | Name (EN) | Applicant |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0002 | Continuous capillary refill replenishment monitor for microcirculation assessment in intensive care | Continuous Capillary Refill Monitor for Critical Care Microcirculation Assessment | University of Latvia |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0016 | Identification of prostate cancer-dependent cancer types for targeted therapy | Identification of fatty acid-addicted cancers for targeted therapy | Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0058 | Shielded Haemoglobin-based Oxygen Carriers (SHOC) | Shielded Haemoglobin-based Oxygen Carriers (SHOC) | Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0020 | Anti-Cancer Vaccine Prototype Targeting Immune Checkpoint (IC-VAX) | Anti-Cancer Vaccine Prototype Targeting Immune Checkpoint (IC-Vax) | Latvian Centre for Biomedical Research and Studies |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0041 | Ultrasonic measurement complex for bone and muscle characterization (BOMUS) | Ultrasonic measurement complex for bone and muscle characterisation (BoMUS) | Institute of Electronics and Computer Science |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0076 | SynGABA: Glutamine-driven synbiotic for microbiome-mediated GABA production | SynGABA: Glutamine-driven Synbiotic for microbiome-mediated GABA production | Latvian Centre for Biomedical Research and Studies |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0083 | Aberration-free Ruggedized Polarizing optics for Extended Reality headset (ARPEX) | Aberration-free Ruggedized Polarizing optics for Extended Reality headset (ARPEX) | Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0077 | Automatic exercise recognition and velocity analytics for objective neuromuscular load monitoring and data-driven training optimization | Automatic exercise recognition and velocity analytics for objective neuromuscular load monitoring and data-driven training optimization | University of Latvia |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0015 | SPERMFREE: Integrated analytical workflow for cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis for assessing testicular function in cases of severe male infertility | SPERMFREE: integrated analytical workflow for cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based assessment of testicular function in severe male infertility | Riga Stradiņš University |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0072 | Laser-structured titanium surfaces for antibacterial applications | Laser-Structured Titanium Surfaces for Antibacterial Purposes | Riga Technical University |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0039 | Reflective road signs with direct application method | Direct-write Afterglow on standard Road Signs (DARS) | Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0082 | Maritime Adaptive IR-Laser-based underwater Intercommunications [MARLIN] | Maritime Adaptive IR-Laser-based underwater Intercommunications [MARLIN] | Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0091 | Polymer-based ammonia sensor | Polymer Based Ammonia Sensor (POLYMONIA) | Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0106 | In-situ ellipsometry-guided wet cleaning to achieve imaging-grade GaAs on small epi-ready wafers (EpiClean) | In-situ ellipsometry-guided wet cleaning to achieve imaging-grade GaAs on small epi-ready wafers (EpiClean) | Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0104 | Multifunctional drone with dual-helical propulsion | Multifunctional drone with double-helicoidal drive | Riga Technical University |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0018 | Development of a divided chamber compression device for gas hydraulic compression | Development of a Dual-Chamber Compression Unit for Gas Hydraulic Compression | Ventspils University College |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0119 | Device for coagulation assessment at the point of care (CLOTcheck) | Point-of-Care device for clotting assessment (CLOTcheck) | Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0014 | Automated Deep Learning Platform for Early Osteoporosis Risk Assessment from Dental CBCT Scans (OSTEOXPLORE) | Automated Deep Learning Platform for Early Osteoporosis Risk Assessment from Dental CBCT Scans (OsteoXplore) | Riga Stradiņš University |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0071 | Injectable Hydrogel for Antimicrobial and Regenerative Therapy of Fracture-Related Bone Infections (BONEART) | Injectable Hydrogel for Antimicrobial and Regenerative Therapy of Fracture-Related Bone Infections (BoneART) | Riga Technical University |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0066 | Immobilized polyprenols as slow-acting adaptogens with immunostimulatory activity | Immobilised polyprenols as slow-release adaptogens with immunostimulatory activity | University of Latvia |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0062 | Membrane Fusion Lipids for Direct Intracellular Delivery (FUSIONX) | Membrane Fusion Lipids for Direct Intracellular Delivery (FusionX) | Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0100 | Polymer-based composite radiation shielding materials with additives for improved radiation protection and dosimetry performance in medical, aerospace, and defense applications | Polymer-Based Composite Shielding Materials with Additives for Enhanced Radiation Protection and Dosimetric Performance in Medical, Space and Defence Applications | University of Latvia |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0069 | Development of a molecular catalyst for electrolyzer assembly for the electrocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to formic acid | Molecular Catalyst Design to Electrolyzer Assembly for Electrocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to Formic Acid | Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0050 | Design of customizable compound library for high-throughput NMR fragment screening | Design of customizable compound library for high-throughput NMR fragment screening | Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0096 | Affordable Sorting Validation for Accessible Stem Therapy (DEPCELL) | Affordable Sorting Validation for Accessible Stem Cell Therapy (DEPCELL) | Riga Technical University |
| OSI_PIP_BioPhoT-2025/2-0095 | PREDICT-PDAC: Real-time Drug Efficacy and Integrated Cytotoxicity Testing Platform for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma | PREDICT-PDAC: Platform for Real-time Drug efficacy and Integrated Cytotoxicity Testing in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma | University of Latvia |
