Furthering wood science in Latvia
Previously supported by the EU to develop its capacity via the WOODPRO project, the LSIWC received similar support via a second EU-funded project, WOOD-NET . This project ran for three years from June 2008 to May 2011. The one-member project promoted partnership building and exchange of expertise, covering 10 thematic priorities (TPs) of wood science. Each of the TPs achieved its objective of fostering exchange. This was realised through visits to and from affiliated institutions, informal collaboration and conference participation. The training of young researchers via the same means was also an important accomplishment across all TPs. Overall, WOOD-NET cooperated with 67 other research organisations, comparable with the 51 partnerships originally envisioned. These exchanges included 21 European Research Area (ERA) countries and 4 others. Several foreign researchers completed significant works during extended stays at the LSIWC. During the project's 3 years, LSIWC staff participated in 62 international conferences and similar meetings, two of which it hosted. During that time, research publication output increased in quality and number, reaching a total of 142. Aside from conference presentations, this number also included 21 peer-reviewed publications, 1 monograph and 2 conference anthologies. Several joint publications with affiliate researchers are in preparation. A major project goal was upgrading LSIWC equipment. The project also made three major new purchases: a molecular-weight measuring system for tiny particles, a materials testing machine and a laboratory reactor. The project's dissemination activities included a website, leaflets in Latvian and English, and one popular article covering the project's achievements to the 30-month point. WOOD-NET activities resulted in a significant amount of cross-fertilisation with other researchers and institutions, also leading to an improvement in its research quality and output. This will additionally lead to indirect benefits such as liaison with industry and opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.
