Agreement No: 1.1.1.3/1/24/A/070

Type: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Duration: 01.06.2025 - 30.05.2028.

Project Leader: Institute of Solid State Physics University of Latvia (ISSP UL), Dr.phys. Aleksejs Kuzmins.

Project partner: JSC Olaine Chemical Plant BIOLAR, Dr. Andrejs Gerbreders.

Total budget: 656000.00 EUR

ISSP UL budget: 347 680.00 EUR


Project description:

X-ray technologies are an integral part of modern life. Their applications range from medical diagnostics and security scanners to industrial inspection and cutting-edge scientific research using synchrotrons and free-electron lasers. X-ray detectors are among the most crucial components of this technology, with a global market size of approximately 4 billion EUR in 2024. Currently, they are implemented using various approaches, typically based on X-ray films, ionization chambers, semiconductors, and scintillators. However, there is a growing demand for radiation detectors that are better suited to specialized applications or offer improvements in one or more technical parameters, such as sensitivity to specific spectral ranges, spatial resolution, low power consumption, flexibility, environmental sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.

The main goal of this project is to develop materials (organic polymers and inorganic nanomaterials) for novel flexible X-ray detectors based on hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposites and nanostructured materials.

This industrial research project is being implemented by the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (ISSP UL) and JSC Olaine Chemical Plant BIOLAR.

The project is directly aligned with the RIS3 specialization field “Photonics, smart materials, technologies, and engineering systems” and involves research activities in Physical (1.3) and Chemical (1.4) sciences, Electrical engineering, electronics, information and communication technologies (2.2), Materials science (2.5) and Nanotechnology (2.10), according to the OECD Frascati Manual.

The total project cost is 656000.00 EUR (53% ISSP UL and 47% JSC Olaine Chemical Plant BIOLAR), including the ERDF funding of 509712.00 EUR (77.7%), state investment of 89872.00 EUR (13.7%) and private investment of 56416.00 EUR (8.6%).