The research platform "Biomedical and Photonics Research Platform for Innovative Products" ("BioPhoT") launches the first call for Research and Innovation Projects (RIPs). A total of €6 million is available for this call for RIPs in the areas of Smart Specialisation Strategy or RIS3 - biomedicine, medical technologies, pharmaceuticals, photonics, smart materials and engineering systems. The deadline for applications is 8 May this year. An information seminar on preparing applications will be held on 10 April.
"The BioPhoT research platform is designed to bridge the gap between science and the commercial sector by making it easier for inventions to cross the so-called 'valley of death' on their way to development. We encourage scientists and industry to take advantage of this opportunity, both by participating in the RIP competition to promote the development and commercialisation of new technologies and by gaining new knowledge from the platform's training programme consultants, who not only have business development expertise but also scientific experience. This is our opportunity to lead Latvia to new achievements in high-tech industries and to significantly strengthen our competitiveness in the global market as well," Osvalds Pugovičs, Deputy Director of the Latvian Organic Synthesis Institute (OSI) comments.
The first call for projects has a total budget of €6 million, with up to €200 000 per project. The deadline for applications is 8 May 2025. Projects must be implemented within 12 months, with the possibility of a three-month extension without additional funding. In the event of a large number of highly rated RIP applications, the BioPhoT Platform Project Steering Committee may decide to increase the amount of funding available for project implementation to €8 million. The call rules and annexes can be found on the BioPhoT website www.biophot.lvand on the websites of all BioPhoT partners.
The evaluation of RIP applications will take place in two rounds. In the first round, a panel of independent scientific, industry and innovation experts will assess the innovative potential of the RIP idea and its relevance to market and/or end-user needs. Applicants will be required to prepare a five-minute presentation and after the presentation in front of the panel, a 10-minute question and answer session. The second round will consist of a full project submission and scientific peer review by experts selected by the Latvian Science Council.
The information seminar will take place on 10 April at 10.00 in the conference hall of the Institute of Electronics and Computer Science, Dzērbenes iela 14. During the seminar, the platform team will inform about applying for the competition, opportunities for cooperation with mentors, as well as discuss frequently asked questions. To register for the workshop, follow this link: https://lu.ma/2pgowzmy.
The BioPhoT platform will offer a free training programme covering a wide range of topics on technology transfer, commercialisation of scientific results and intellectual property protection. The full training programme is available on the platform's website www.biophot.lv.
This is the first of a total of three calls for proposals expected in the first phase of the Platform's operation by the end of 2026. A total of more than €12 million will be available for innovation projects during this period. Almost €5 million more will be earmarked for improving scientists' innovation skills, including training on IP protection. If the platform is effective, public funding will also be provided for the next two phases of the BioPhoT platform until 2032.
A total of 35 new technologies are expected to be developed by 2032, having reached either a proven technological basis (TRL 3) or technological validation in a laboratory setting (TRL 4). At least 23 of these technologies are expected to be developed to validation under realistic conditions (TRL 5) or demonstration under full-scale conditions (TRL 6), while at least four will enter the commercialisation phase of innovation.
