Within the framework of the International Deep Tech Commercialization Forum “Innovation Impact Forum 2026,” parallel “BioPhoT” presentation sessions took place on May 12th at the University of Latvia's House of Science, where research project teams in biomedicine and photonics presented their technological solutions to investors, industry representatives, and innovation experts.
“The ”Innovation Impact Forum 2026" brought together experts from leading innovation, investment, and technology organizations to strengthen the Baltic region's position in the European innovation space, while promoting knowledge transfer, international cooperation, and the commercialization of high value-added technologies.
More than 20 “BioPhoT” research projects participated in presentation sessions within two thematic categories: “Photonics, Smart Materials, and Advanced Engineering Systems” and “Biomedicine, Medical Technologies, and Pharmacy.” A panel of international experts evaluated the presentations from research groups at leading Latvian higher education and research institutions, providing teams with professional feedback on the commercialization potential, market readiness, and development opportunities of their technologies.
The project “ received first place and a prize of 1000 EUR from the BioPhoT platform.”Detection and Monitoring of Clinically Significant Biomarkers Using Sweat Tests (SwyCad)”(RTU, Project Manager Kristaps Kļaviņš).
Another winner of an 800 EUR prize in the category “Biomedicine, Medical Technologies, and Pharmacy” was the project “BIOmaterials for infection control and rapid bone regeneration (BioCore)”(RTU, Project Manager Dagnija Loča), but in the category “Photonics, Smart Materials and Advanced Engineering Systems” - “Smart Inks for Printed Chromogenic Windows”(DU, Project Manager Vyacheslavs Gerbreders).
The third-place prize of 600 EUR in the “Biomedicine, Medical Technologies, and Pharmacy” category was awarded to “Field Diagnostics: Aptamer-Based Device for Rapid Malaria Detection (Rapid-M)”(LU, project manager Līga Kunrade), but in the category “Photonics, Smart Materials and Advanced Engineering Systems” received “High-efficiency contactless heating system based on permanent magnets for metallurgical applications (PM-Heat)”(LU, Project Manager Toms Beinerts).
Special thanks to the Latvian Composites Association and its director, Gunārs Kosojš, for the awarded 1,000 EUR Audience's Choice Award in the “Photonics, Smart Materials, and Advanced Engineering Systems” category, emphasizing the importance of advanced technologies in the development of future industries. This award was received by the project “Fast Laser Speckle Based Evaluation of Antibacterial Resistance Evaluation (FLARE)”(LU, Project Manager Aleksey Likhachev).
In addition, the project “Real-Time Drug Efficacy and Integrated Cytotoxicity Testing Platform in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (PREDICT-PDAC)”(LU, Project Manager Karīna Goluba), who received the sponsor Plug and Play Tech Center award – three hours of mentoring training.
The presentations in both categories were evaluated by an international jury of industry-leading experts. The evaluation commission for the “Biomedicine, Medical Technologies, and Pharmaceuticals” category consisted of four representatives: Ilona Gulchak, Andrea Basso, Antons Adomovics, and Povilas Žinys, ensuring a project assessment from an investment and commercialization perspective. The jury for the second category, “Photonics, Smart Materials, and Advanced Engineering Systems,” included Matiss Neimanis, Ali Jazairy, Raj Mendhir, and Gunārs Kosojs, representing the fields of intellectual property, deep tech investments, and industrial innovation. We thank the jury for their involvement and contribution to the sessions.
“The ”Innovation Impact Forum 2026" provided an opportunity to explore the deep technology development process from patent to market, discuss with policymakers, patent office representatives, technology transfer offices, venture capital funds, and industry partners, as well as build professional connections with international investors, industry experts, and startup representatives.
Photo: Toms Norde
