On 14 May, Riga Technical University Science and Innovation Centre hosted one of the Deep Tech Atelier 2025 events - "Research Translation: Deep Tech & Lab Open Doors". The event was organized by EIT Community Hub in Latvia in partnership with Biocatalyst Foundation and BioPhoT platform partners, bringing together researchers, start-up founders, innovation ecosystem representatives and investors.
During the event, the BoPhoT platform was highlighted as an example of best practice in targeted collaboration between research and industry. Anna Stikāne from the platform presented the support available - funding opportunities, mentoring network and practical tools to help researchers develop their ideas, build solutions for industry and get to the commercialisation stage. Some of the bravest BioPhoT candidates had the opportunity to try their hand at presenting their idea and received valuable feedback from the event participants.
Guest speaker Haim Piratinskiy (FESTO, Germany) shared his experience on the most common reasons why early stage science-intensive technologies (deep tech) teams fail to reach the market. Jakub Jasiczak, CEO of the Polish Association for University Technology Transfer, also took part in the discussion, analysing together the strengths and weaknesses of the ecosystem.
After the main programme, the participants went on excursions to the Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence (BBCE), led by Professor Jānis Ločs, and to the Aeronautics Research Laboratory of Riga Technical University, Space Engineering laboratory (headed by Viktors Gutakovskis) and SkyLab/Design Factory (hosted by Elīna Miķelsone), where they had the opportunity to get to know the research and innovation infrastructure first-hand, as well as to strengthen mutual contacts for future cooperation in an informal atmosphere.
Photos from the event see in the photo gallery.
