Category: Event

More than 30 scientists in person participated in the BioPhoT Platform Info-day on 10 April, and around 20 online. The aim of the event was to help scientists prepare for the submission of their project proposals on 8 May. 

"Given how different the objectives and criteria of BioPhoT are from traditional science funding competitions, our task is to help scientists orient themselves and prepare as much as possible for the selection process, where they will be judged not by scientists but by business people," said Osvalds Pugovičs, BioPhoT Platform Manager and Deputy Director of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis. 

"Under BioPhoT, the Ministry of Economics has tasked Latvian research organisations (scientists) with proposing, designing and developing research that will lead to projects that will benefit the economy for the next eight years. The overarching objective is to invest in science to boost Latvia's economic development and global competitiveness. 

Research carried out by BioPhoT scientists should be able to provide new, competitive solutions in biomedicine, medicine, pharmaceuticals, photonics, smart materials, electronics and engineering systems. 

After the submission of the project, the first selection round is the most important - a 5-minute presentation of the project followed by a discussion with the BioPhoT expert panel, an international team of professionals with experience in the commercial sector, business development and commercialisation of science. 

"The first round will be open to those projects whose authors are able to concisely and clearly answer the questions: what specific problem in industry or the economy can be solved in this way, why it can be done with the proposed idea and how the scientist's solution is better than existing ones," the selection criteria relevant to the BioPhoT platform was pointed out by Ģirts Ozoliņš, one of the seven mentors of the platform, senior expert at the Institute of Solid State Physics.  

The project teams that make it through the first selection round will go on to develop their applications in detail and will be assessed by a panel of experts from the Latvian Research Council, focusing on the scientific aspects of the idea. 

€6 million is available for projects that pass this year's first funding call. Researchers will be able to receive up to €200,000 per project. A second call for BioPhoT projects is planned for autumn this year. 

The BioPhoT Info-day provided participants with an overview of the application procedure, project selection criteria, the meaning of mentoring and the scope of assistance. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions in public and to consult individually with BioPhoT mentors and experts who were there to support applicants. Through the platform's funding, mentoring support is available to project applicants already during the preparation period. 

On 1 April, the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry hosted the BioPhoT Mentoring Day.

During the event, the mentors of the platform gave a detailed insight into the practical aspects of BioPhoT, the role of mentors and the methodology. Scientists had the opportunity to ask questions and get answers on project development and application preparation.

"BioPhoT - or "Biomedical and Photonics Research Platform for Innovative Products" is a long-term national research programme designed to foster collaboration between scientists and the commercial sector to develop new technologies with high commercialisation potential in the biomedical, photonics and related sectors. It is designed as a long-term initiative with specific objectives in technology development and commercialisation. The platform has a particular focus on the commercialisation of research results, with a mentoring support system, training and additional innovation education available to project authors. These features make BioPhoT an important initiative in the Latvian science and innovation ecosystem, fostering closer cooperation between research and business, and contributing to Latvia's international competitiveness," the organizers highlighted.

On 20 March, the networking event BioPhoT Radar took place at the Science and Innovation Centre of Riga Technical University (RTU). It brought together more than 80 scientists and industry representatives to develop joint innovative projects and new cooperation opportunities to be further implemented through the National Research Programme (NRP) platform "Biomedical and Photonics Research Platform for Innovative Products" or "BioPhoT". 

The BioPhoT Radar networking event aimed to foster collaboration between research organisations and companies to develop new and promising projects in the fields of biomedicine and photonics. Participants took part in an "idea sprint", where scientists presented their innovative ideas in a concise manner, while industry representatives shared their current topics and challenges. The interactive format of the meeting encouraged the generation of new ideas and active networking, which helped to identify new potential collaborative projects and strengthen established contacts. 

The BioPhoT platform's Terms of Reference and the first call for proposals are expected soon. Researchers and science-intensive ideas from the biomedical, medical technology, pharmaceutical, photonics, smart materials, electronics, electrical engineering and technology and engineering systems sectors are invited to apply. 

The BioPhoT platform represents a significant departure from the current approach to public funding, providing more targeted support for innovative projects in biomedical and photonics technologies. The funding process will specifically assess market demand for the technology developed, industry support and interest in its development. The selection process will start with a presentation to a panel of industry experts who will provide an initial assessment and help identify the most promising innovations. 

There are a number of key requirements for project promoters: the timeframe for projects must not exceed 12 months and the maximum funding available for an idea is €200,000. Particular emphasis is placed on the level of technological readiness (TRL). In addition, participants are provided with regular mentoring support and are assessed not only on the TRL but also on the overall level of realisation of the innovation (IRL). 

On 6 March, the University of Latvia (UL) Business Opportunities Festival "Icebreakers 2025" took place at the UL House of Sciences. It also included a BioPhoT platform partner event, which looked at innovation and science commercialisation experiences in the biomedical and photonics fields.  

The event brought together scientists, students and industry representatives to learn about commercialisation processes and opportunities for collaboration with research institutions. Participants learned how new ideas are turned into products and how research institutions can support start-ups and existing companies in developing innovation. 

Speakers at the event talked about their experiences:  

Dr. Kaspars Ozols (Institute of Electronics and Computer Science) - "EDI scientific excellence and expertise - innovation support for business"; 

Dr. Chem. Dace Rasiņa (Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis) - "When science and industry synthesize together"; 

Ph.D. Daniela Godiņa (Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry) - "Green Innovation: How the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry is changing the future"; 

Laura Ansone (Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre) - "Data, algorithms and business: lessons from the commercialisation of microbiome analysis"; 

Ģirts Ozoliņš (Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia) - "Commercialisation experience in practice: from space exploration to biotechnology". 

Discussions and presentations highlighted Latvia's scientific potential for innovation and stressed the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation. Speakers shared practical experiences of how scientific discoveries are turned into marketable products.