About the project
Despite the serious efforts being made at national and the European Union level, Europe continues to experience serious internal differences in regard to the development of research and innovation. Among the causes are an insufficient critical mass of centres of research and excellence. This is an important precondition for directing states and regions, Latvia included, towards strategically innovative growth.
CAMART² aims to upgrade the existing Centre of Excellence in Advanced Material Research and Technology at the Institute of Solid State Physics University of Latvia (ISSP UL) to a new and significantly stronger Centre of Excellence. The upgrade will enable the efficient transfer of new materials and technologies into products for commercial and public benefits based on exchange of knowledge and synergy with innovation-intensive partners.
The implementation of CAMART² increases the level of commercialization of research in Latvia and the Baltic Sea region, and enhances collaboration between business and academia, paving the way for innovation-based economic growth, and diminishing the disparities between Latvia and well-performing member states.
The project is divided into two parts. The first part is dedicated to the elaboration of a business plan tailored to meet the needs and demands of national and Baltic region industries for R&D and technology transfer services in the field of advanced materials and technologies. Implementation timeframe: 01.06.2015 – 31.05.2016. The second phase is dedicated to the establishment of the centre of excellence and will last for eight years from 2017 to 2024.
Vision
The vision of CAMART² is to establish ISSP UL as an important Centre of Excellence for education, science, innovation and technology transfer in the Baltic States. ISSP UL will also become the hub for a collaboration and technology transfer platform for material physics based on high technologies; the users will be scientists, entrepreneurs, investors and policy makers on both sides of the Baltic Sea. The commitment from the project’s Swedish partners guarantees the successful modernization of ISSP UL, including through overall refinement of educational programs, strengthening of research and development activities to facilitate higher technology readiness levels, as well as by way of the establishment of an innovation system and open access laboratory.
The experience of the partners in networking and outreach will help both academics and high-tech industries in the region around Riga and Stockholm flourish with respect to scientific results, economic growth and increased competitiveness. The region will benefit from an injection of highly educated young people, closer collaboration between academics and business, as well as a state-of-the-art open access research infrastructure, boosting innovation and the economy.
Mission
CAMART² serves as a knowledge base and key enabler for materials physics development that is vital for academics and the successful establishment of new companies through the fostering of scientific excellence, forming strong networks with academia and industry for knowledge exchange, educating a new generation.
Specialization
Specialization of CAMART² is defined according to RIS3 topic of Latvia “Smart materials, technology and engineering systems” and the European Commission defined KETs – Advanced Materials, Photonics, Nanotechnology and Micro- and Nanoelectronics. The R&D&I activities at the Centre of Excellence are focused on:
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Thin films and coating technologies;
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Functional materials for electronics and photonics;
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Nanotechnology, nanocomposites and ceramics;
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Computational material science by atomistic scale modelling of technologically important materials and devices.
Strategic objectives
The CAMART² implementation strategy is aligned to a new paradigm "Science with and for Society". It is implemented by involving citizens, investors and corporations, and explores and supports science by engaging new perspectives and talents in research and innovation. Strategic objectives for this project are to:
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Increase the level of research commercialization;
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Enhance collaboration between entrepreneurs and academics;
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Develop a collaboration platform for enterprises and scientists, supporting joint research and faster technology transfer.