New Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence building officially unveiled
Photo: Courtesy of RTU
The new Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence (BBCE) building at Riga Technical University (RTU) has been unveiled. This is a major milestone not only for the development of research infrastructure and the Ķīpsala campus, but also as a foundation for the accelerated advancement of biomaterials science, innovation, and personalised medicine in Latvia and Europe.
The new building serves as the headquarters of the BBCE, where scientists from the Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering at RTU's Faculty of Science and Technology conduct research focused on the synthesis of biomaterials, often referred to as “human spare parts”, for applications in bone and soft tissue repair, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthopaedics and other medical fields.
Until the end of last year, the institute’s scientists operated from the facilities on Pulka iela near Ķīpsala, focusing on the development of materials and technologies for personalised medicine. This included creating tailored drug delivery systems and customising the shape and chemical composition of implant materials. Now thanks to the new headquarters, the Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering will be positioned to collaborate more closely with researchers from the Faculty of Science and Technology and other RTU faculties. This setup will enable them to actively pursue interdisciplinary research and explore new research directions.
The new scientific equipment also provides significantly more opportunities for research. It includes equipment that is unique not only in Latvia, but also on an international scale. Over 20 modern scientific devices have been added to the new building, including a 3D printer for printing tissue, an X-ray microtomograph that can study the structure of materials in great detail without damaging them, a scanning electron microscope capable of measuring even the coating of nanoparticles, and more.
At the opening ceremony, the scientists were greeted by several distinguished guests, including Anda Čakša, Minister of Education and Science, Artjoms Uršuļskis, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Health, and Jurģis Miezainis, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Economics. The guest list also featured Zane Petre, Head of the European Commission Representation in Latvia, and Martin Michellet, Ambassador of Switzerland to Latvia.
The BBCE project is led by RTU in close collaboration with prominent Latvian research institutions and industry partners, including the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (OSI), Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), and the RSU Institute of Stomatology. Their leaders and representatives—Aigars Pētersons, RSU Rector; Dace Kārkle, OSI Director; Maija Dambrova, Head of the Pharmaceutical Pharmacology Laboratory; Assoc. Prof. Ģirts Šalms, Chairman of the Board at the RSU Institute of Stomatology and Ilze Šalma, BBCE Project Manager at the RSU Institute of Stomatology—expressed pride in the collective effort to elevate Latvian excellence in biomaterials research to an international level.
RTU Rector Tālis Juhna and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology Māris Turks acknowledged the pivotal role of outstanding scientists in advancing Latvia’s biomaterials research. In particular, they honoured the achievements of Rūdolfs Cimdiņš and Līga Bērziņa-Cimdiņa, who established the RTU Riga Biomaterials Innovation and Development Centre 20 years ago. Under their leadership, a new generation of exceptional scientists has emerged, now driving the BBCE project.
Collaboration with international partners in the BBCE project, such as the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg in Germany and the renowned AO Research Institute Davos (ARI), has played a key role in significantly enhancing the scientific excellence of Latvian researchers. In recognition of their substantial contributions to RTU's development and scientific capacity building, as well as their active involvement in the BBCE, RTU awarded Honorary Doctorates to Prof. Mauro Alini, Scientific Advisor Emeritus at the AO Research Institute, and Prof. Aldo Roberto Boccaccini, Director of the Biomaterials Centre at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg.
About the project
The BBCE (GA No. 857287) is an ambitious scientific capacity-building initiative that fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange between local and international research organisations and industry. By combining the strengths of its partners and advancing infrastructure, the project aims to strengthen the biomaterials sector in the region. It enables scientists to research, develop, and commercialise new biomaterials, providing a comprehensive development cycle—from initial laboratory concepts to clinical applications. Funded with 15 million EUR from the EU Horizon 2020 programme, alongside 15 million EUR from the State, ERDF, and project partners, the BBCE plays a crucial role in advancing biomaterials innovation.
