Latvia's flagship university combining nanomaterials research and breath-based cancer diagnostics with unique expertise in post-Soviet governance and Central Asian studies.
The University of Latvia is a broad-based research university in Riga with particular strength in nanomaterials, advanced sensing technologies, and open science infrastructure. Their applied research spans from 1D metal oxide nanostructures for cancer detection to polymer composites with 2D nanoparticles, alongside significant work in medical diagnostics — notably breath-based screening for gastric cancer. They also serve as a regional anchor for open access research infrastructure and research integrity training across the Baltics and Eastern Europe.
Coordinated CanBioSe, NanoSurf, NANO2DAY and participated in SMARCOAT, ENF2015, MAMI, and HiTIMe — covering electrospinning, 1D metal oxides, MXene/graphene composites, and topological insulators.
SNIFFPHONE and VOGAS focused on volatile organic compound breath analysis for gastric cancer screening; PITBUL developed ultra-fast Point-of-Care TB diagnostics.
Participated in OpenAIRE2020 and OpenAIRE-Advance for open access infrastructure, plus VIRT2UE for research integrity training — consistent engagement across both programme periods.
Recent keywords show growing focus on informality, Central Asia, shadow economy, and post-Soviet studies, appearing in the second half of their H2020 portfolio.
Participated in CONCERT (radiation protection), BRILLIANT (nuclear technologies in the Baltic), and ESFR-SMART (sodium fast reactor safety).
Recent keywords include citizen science and research integrity; projects like VIRT2UE and Researchers' Night events signal growing focus on public engagement with science.
In 2014–2018, the university focused heavily on nanotechnology, sensor development, and open access infrastructure — anchored by projects like SNIFFPHONE (breath diagnostics), ENF2015 (nano networking), and OpenAIRE2020. From 2019 onward, their materials science work matured into coordinated MSCA-RISE projects on polymer composites and dental implant nanostructures, while a new social science thread emerged around informality, Central Asian governance, and post-Soviet studies. The open science work evolved from infrastructure building to research integrity and citizen science, reflecting a broader institutional shift toward responsible research practices.
Moving from participating in large nanotechnology consortia toward coordinating their own materials science projects while building a distinct social science portfolio on post-Soviet informality.
Latvijas Universitate operates predominantly as a consortium partner (41 of 49 projects), but has demonstrated growing coordination capacity with 5 coordinator roles — all in MSCA-RISE materials science projects. With 850 unique partners across 63 countries, they function as a wide-reaching hub rather than a loyal-partner institution, which makes them an accessible entry point for new collaborations. Their comfort in large multinational consortia (EUROfusion, HBM4EU) alongside smaller focused networks suggests flexibility in team size and structure.
An exceptionally broad network of 850 partners spanning 63 countries — well beyond the EU, reflecting their MSCA-RISE mobility projects that connect to Central Asia and the Caucasus. They are one of the most internationally connected institutions in the Baltic region.
As Latvia's flagship university, they offer a rare combination of hard-science nanomaterials expertise and deep knowledge of post-Soviet socioeconomic dynamics — a profile almost no other EU partner can replicate. Their MSCA-RISE coordination experience means they know how to build researcher mobility networks connecting the EU with Central Asia and Eastern Europe. For consortium builders, they bring both technical capability in advanced materials and a geographic bridge to under-represented regions in Horizon programmes.
