LATVIJAS UNIVERSITATES CIETVIELU FIZIKAS INSTITUTS

Their core work

The Institute of Solid State Physics at the University of Latvia is a materials science research center based in Riga, specializing in advanced materials, photonics, nanotechnology, and micro/nanoelectronics. Their flagship initiative CAMART² (Centre of Advanced Materials Research and Technology Transfer) positions them as Latvia's primary hub for translating materials research into industrial applications. They also contribute to European fusion energy research through EUROfusion and have developed capabilities in nanofabrication techniques, including focused electron beam induced deposition (FEBID) and irradiation-driven nanostructure fabrication.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2014-2017), the institute focused on broad materials science capabilities — photonics, nanotechnology, and nanoelectronics — while building its technology transfer center through CAMART² and contributing to large-scale fusion research. From 2018 onward, they moved toward more specialized and computationally intensive work, adding irradiation-driven nanofabrication, multiscale modelling, reactive force fields, and molecular dynamics to their portfolio. This shift suggests a deepening from general materials characterization toward simulation-guided nanoscale fabrication.

Moving toward simulation-driven nanofabrication methods, combining computational modelling with experimental validation — a direction that makes them increasingly relevant for precision manufacturing at the nanoscale.

How they like to work

They operate as both a project leader and an active consortium partner, coordinating 2 of their 6 projects (both CAMART² phases, including the largest at EUR 11M). With 229 unique partners across 31 countries, they maintain an exceptionally broad network for an institution of their size, suggesting they are well-connected and trusted within the European research landscape. Their participation in large frameworks like EUROfusion alongside smaller MSCA-RISE projects shows flexibility in working across different consortium scales.

An extensive network of 229 unique partners across 31 countries, built largely through the CAMART² technology transfer center and participation in large pan-European initiatives like EUROfusion. This reach is remarkable for a Baltic institution and reflects deliberate internationalization efforts.

What sets them apart

As Latvia's leading solid state physics institute, they occupy a rare position in the Baltic region: deep materials science expertise combined with a dedicated technology transfer mandate through CAMART². Their EUR 11M Teaming grant for CAMART² signals EU-level recognition as a centre of excellence worth investing in. For consortium builders, they offer strong materials and nanotechnology competence from an underrepresented Widening country, which can strengthen proposals both scientifically and strategically.

Highlights from their portfolio

• CAMART2
  EUR 11M Teaming/Widening grant (2017-2025) — one of the largest capacity-building investments in the Baltic region, establishing the institute as a recognized centre of excellence in advanced materials.
• EUROfusion
  Participation in Europe's flagship fusion energy programme with EUR 2.4M funding demonstrates the institute's relevance to large-scale energy research infrastructure.
• RADON
  MSCA-RISE project combining computational modelling with nanofabrication experiments, representing the institute's newest research direction in simulation-guided manufacturing.