Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Natalion (Natural Products Research at Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis as a driver for Excellence in Innovation)
Berichtszeitraum: 2024-04-01 bis 2025-12-31
In order to sustain its competitive advantages in drug discovery, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) needs closely to follow new trends and consequently upgrade the competencies in drug discovery. As a result of revealing untapped biological resources, advances in genome mining and engineering, and the availability of powerful analytical tools, natural products (NPs) as drug leads have revitalized the interest of pharma industry. Sourcing of NPs with high molecular diversity and wide spectrum of biological activity would strongly synergize with the existing LIOS competencies in drug discovery. This would constitute an efficient engine to develop new technologies and products with high innovation potential not only for the pharma industry but also for agricultural and animal health industries.
The aim of the project is to foster innovation excellence at LIOS by the establishment of Natural Products Research (NPR) group and implementation of LIOS Innovation Hub as a complementary structural change.
To reach the expected project outcomes and impact, the following objectives have been set:
O1 Establishment of the NPR group, including its capacity build-up;
O2 Setting up the research directions of the NPR group with a focus on new technologies and products;
O3 Integration of activities of the NPR group into internal and external collaborative projects including 3I mobility;
O4 Increase competitiveness for attraction of external research funding;
O5 Establishment of the LIOS Innovation Hub and its integration into institutional, national, and EU ecosystems;
O6 Development of a motivating and inclusive institutional environment, which fosters innovations and entrepreneurial culture;
O7 Enabling institutional compliance to ERA priorities and UN Sustainable Development Goals;
O8 Dissemination and exploitation of the results of the NPR group according to PEDR and a communication plan.
The establishment of the NPR group, the international recruitment, as well as the development of environment fostering innovations will nurture brain circulation for researchers and innovators. The establishment of the LIOS Innovation Hub and its integration into institutional, national, and EU ecosystems will deliver institutional reforms with a focus on innovation. Setting up new research directions and integrating the NPR group into internal and external collaboration networks under the competent guidance of the ERA Chair will leverage excellence of R&I and increase the competitiveness for attraction of external research funding. Better communication of R&I results to society will be achieved by dissemination and exploitation of the project results.
The aim of the project is to foster innovation excellence at LIOS by the establishment of Natural Products Research (NPR) group and implementation of LIOS Innovation Hub as a complementary structural change.
To reach the expected project outcomes and impact, the following objectives have been set:
O1 Establishment of the NPR group, including its capacity build-up;
O2 Setting up the research directions of the NPR group with a focus on new technologies and products;
O3 Integration of activities of the NPR group into internal and external collaborative projects including 3I mobility;
O4 Increase competitiveness for attraction of external research funding;
O5 Establishment of the LIOS Innovation Hub and its integration into institutional, national, and EU ecosystems;
O6 Development of a motivating and inclusive institutional environment, which fosters innovations and entrepreneurial culture;
O7 Enabling institutional compliance to ERA priorities and UN Sustainable Development Goals;
O8 Dissemination and exploitation of the results of the NPR group according to PEDR and a communication plan.
The establishment of the NPR group, the international recruitment, as well as the development of environment fostering innovations will nurture brain circulation for researchers and innovators. The establishment of the LIOS Innovation Hub and its integration into institutional, national, and EU ecosystems will deliver institutional reforms with a focus on innovation. Setting up new research directions and integrating the NPR group into internal and external collaboration networks under the competent guidance of the ERA Chair will leverage excellence of R&I and increase the competitiveness for attraction of external research funding. Better communication of R&I results to society will be achieved by dissemination and exploitation of the project results.
The activities performed during the implementation of project Natalion:
1) establishment of Project Management Board and External Advisory Board;
2) establishment of the Natural Products Research (NPR) group;
3) recruitment of the Head of the NPR group and NPR group personnel;
4) implementation of infrastructure upgrade for the NPR group;
5) development of training plan for the NPR group;
6) development of scientific management and sustainability plans of the NPR group;
7) recruitment of the pre-award grant office personnel;
8) establishment of pre-award service package;
9) establishment of the LIOS Innovation Hub;
10) recruitment of the Head of the LIOS Innovation Hub;
11) development of training plan on innovation and IPR;
12) development of service package of the LIOS Innovation Hub;
13) preparation of publications by the NPR group (11 scientific papers and 1 book chapter published by 23.02.2026.);
14) participation of the NPR group members in conferences and external webinars and workshops (10 conferences and 7 webinars/workshops have been attended by 23.02.2026.);
15) organization of two external scientific workshops on NPR.
1) establishment of Project Management Board and External Advisory Board;
2) establishment of the Natural Products Research (NPR) group;
3) recruitment of the Head of the NPR group and NPR group personnel;
4) implementation of infrastructure upgrade for the NPR group;
5) development of training plan for the NPR group;
6) development of scientific management and sustainability plans of the NPR group;
7) recruitment of the pre-award grant office personnel;
8) establishment of pre-award service package;
9) establishment of the LIOS Innovation Hub;
10) recruitment of the Head of the LIOS Innovation Hub;
11) development of training plan on innovation and IPR;
12) development of service package of the LIOS Innovation Hub;
13) preparation of publications by the NPR group (11 scientific papers and 1 book chapter published by 23.02.2026.);
14) participation of the NPR group members in conferences and external webinars and workshops (10 conferences and 7 webinars/workshops have been attended by 23.02.2026.);
15) organization of two external scientific workshops on NPR.
The expected results of project Natalion are:
1) NPR group as new sustainable research unit of LIOS;
2) new NPR strands with the focus on new technologies and products;
3) integrated activities of NPR group into internal and external collaborative projects including 3I mobility;
4) increased LIOS competitiveness for attraction of an external research funding;
5) established LIOS Innovation Hub integrated in institutional, national, and EU ecosystems;
6) motivating and inclusive institutional environment fostering innovations and entrepreneurial culture;
7) enabled institutional compliance to ERA priorities and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Hence, the potential impacts of the results are:
1) effective institutional reforms in research institutions in Widening countries;
2) better use of existing research infrastructure;
3) excellent talents attracted to institutions and reverted brain drain;
4) free circulation of knowledge and expertise in line with ERA priorities;
5) improved linkages and increased mobility between academia and business by overcoming sectoral barriers;
6) improved gender balance and equal opportunities;
7) improved excellence capacity and resources in Latvia and closing R&I gap within Europe.
1) NPR group as new sustainable research unit of LIOS;
2) new NPR strands with the focus on new technologies and products;
3) integrated activities of NPR group into internal and external collaborative projects including 3I mobility;
4) increased LIOS competitiveness for attraction of an external research funding;
5) established LIOS Innovation Hub integrated in institutional, national, and EU ecosystems;
6) motivating and inclusive institutional environment fostering innovations and entrepreneurial culture;
7) enabled institutional compliance to ERA priorities and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Hence, the potential impacts of the results are:
1) effective institutional reforms in research institutions in Widening countries;
2) better use of existing research infrastructure;
3) excellent talents attracted to institutions and reverted brain drain;
4) free circulation of knowledge and expertise in line with ERA priorities;
5) improved linkages and increased mobility between academia and business by overcoming sectoral barriers;
6) improved gender balance and equal opportunities;
7) improved excellence capacity and resources in Latvia and closing R&I gap within Europe.