The long-term state research programme project "Biomedical and Photonics research platform for innovative products”(BioPhoT)
Project number: IVPP-EM-Inovācija-2024/1-0002
Type: The state research programme “Innovation Fund – long-term research programme” project "Biomedical and Photonics research platform for innovative products”(BioPhoT), established by the Ministry of Economy
Project lead: Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Osvalds Pugovics
Project lead from ISSP, UL: Andris Anspoks
Project partners: Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga Technical University, University of Latvia, Scientific Institute for Food Safety, Animal Health and the Environment, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Institute of Electronics and Computer Science.
Implementation period: 13.12.2024. – 30.11.2026.
Allocated Funding: 17 100 000 EUR
Aim of the project:
The project will set up a long-term interdisciplinary research and innovation platform that will carry out research and innovation projects until 2032 in the smart specialisation strategy areas – 1) of biomedicine, medical technology and pharmaceuticals; 2) of photonics and smart materials, technologies and engineering systems.
Project summary:
The interdisciplinary research and innovation platform BioPhoT will carry out research and innovation projects:
in the smart specialisation strategy area of biomedicine, medical technology and pharmaceuticals (improving access to therapies to increase survival and work capacity by developing technologies for the production of drugs, their transporters and vaccines, drug reprofiling, new drug discovery and development research, identifying new biomarkers and developing precision medicine solutions);
in the Smart Specialisation Strategy area of photonics and smart materials, technologies and engineering systems (development of optics, photonics, microelectronics, microfluidics devices, smart materials, data and communication technologies, sensors and engineering systems, robotics and future IoT solutions)
The Platform is a consortium, coordinated by the Latvian Organic Synthesis Institute and co-ordinated by the – Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, Riga Stradiņš University, Riga Technical University, University of Latvia, Scientific Institute for Food Safety, Animal Health and the Environment, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Institute of Electronics and Computer Science.
Platform objectives:
Developing academic research and applied science competences to develop innovative and commercialisable products and technologies.
By 2032, create 35 new technologies of at least TRL 3-4, of which at least 23 must meet TRL 5-6. At least 4 technologies must have reached the commercialisation phase.
The Platform makes innovation education and technology transfer training an important challenge, fostering dialogue between researchers, the commercial sector and policy makers.
This approach will bridge the gap between science and the commercial sector, improving the ability of inventions to overcome the so-called "valley of death" in their development path.The strategic impact of the platform lies in its aim to identify ideas with low TRL but good commercialisation potential and, through project implementation, to raise it, thus preparing competitive applications for Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) commercialisation grant competitions.
