Rising competitiveness of early stage researchers and research management in Latvia

Project Information

RISEus2

Grant agreement ID: 952347

DOI

10.3030/952347

Project closed

EC signature date 27 June 2020

Start date 1 January 2021

End date 31 December 2023

Funded under

• Twinning of research institutions

Total cost

€ 899 960,00

EU contribution

€ 899 960,00

Coordinated by

RIGAS TEHNISKA UNIVERSITATE
Latvia

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RISEus2 (Rising competitiveness of early stage researchers and research management in Latvia)

Reporting period: 2022-04-01 to 2023-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

H2020 key facts and figures (2014-2020) of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions clearly show that ESRs from Latvia are not among the top 10 of the incoming ESRs to the countries that are well above in EU27 average performance in Science and Technology (e.g. Germany, France, Switzerland). Competitiveness in the scientific area is related to well-measurable indicators, such as impact factors, research papers in high-ranking journals, H- index, competitive funding, etc. This proposal aims to significantly strengthen the research management and administration skills of RTU RBIDC leading staff. Furthermore, it will increase the research profile of ESRs hosted in RTU RBIDC, in the area of biomaterials development for bone tissue replacement and regeneration.

The overall objective of RISEus2 is to fundamentally strengthen the research field of biomaterial development for bone tissue replacement and regeneration at RTU RBIDC. Key activities will be based on the long-term strategic cooperation between RTU RBIDC and three internationally renowned counterparts: AO Research Institute Davos, Switzerland (ARI), Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse CIRIMAT, France (INPT-CIRIMAT) and Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany (GUF).

The “Rising competitiveness of early stage researchers and research management in Latvia” (RISEus2) provide an opportunity to raise the expertise, excel in the targeted field and create spill-over effects between counterparts at institutional and international levels for researchers in all stages, involving ESRs and experienced staff. Within the scope of strengthening research and excellence in the field of biomaterials development for bone tissue regeneration, RISEus2 leading staff members have implemented 12 direct visits to industry/research organisations according to the consortium member recommendations and participated in 4 trade shows/exhibitions, gaining experience and new skills in communication with the entrepreneurs. This action led to new material transfer agreements, staff exchange and new collaborations on material analysis for industrial partners.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Despite the extreme situation regarding the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and all the imposed restrictions throughout the world, the RISEus2 consortium managed to adapt and smoothly implement the ambitious tasks and reach a significant impact.
At the end of the RISEus2, the main implemented activities include:
1) Project visual identity and the creation of the website: https://bbcentre.eu/riseus2/riseus2-news
2) Six ESR mobility visits implemented at Advanced partner institutions.
3) Three winter schools and 3 summer schools organised for ESRs.
4) Six collaborative visits were implemented.
5) Three thematic workshops at partner institutions organized
6) Twelve (12) SMEs and/or excellent research centres in Baltic region and other EU countries visited.
7) New collaborations have been established during the visits to 7 enterprises/advanced research centers in Switzerland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom (UK).
8) Six RISEus2 acknowledged Open Access high-impact scientific publications published as an outcome of the performed ESR trainings and in cooperation between RTU RBIDC and RISEus2 advanced partners: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.03.207; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13030462; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceram.2023.100418; https://doi.org/10.1080/08982104.2023.2285973; https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.3c00539; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129651
9) Seven participations of ESRs in internationally recognised scientific conferences.
10) Three medical devices-related trade shows 3 – Medbaltica ‘22 , Arab Health 2023 and MEDICA International Trade Fair 2023 attended and B2B meetings with industry and other research institutions provided.
11) The RISEus2 seminar ‘From University to Industry’ for researchers, students and SMEs was organised.
12) The final RISEus2 conference, including early stage researcher’s (ESRs) session “Biomaterials Research”, was organised with the participation of the world-leading scientists from RISEus2 consortium partner organisations.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

RISEus2 aims to produce a highly qualified and methodical generation of scientists - research staff at RTU RBIDC, capable of coping with their future career demands in an excellent and innovative way. New competencies and skills that have been acquired from advanced partners during the RISEus2 project implementation are complementary to those that RTU RBIDC already has. Moreover, they will significantly promote the scientific and innovation capacity of ESRs and experienced researchers at RTU RBIDC in future. Through the linkage with the partner institutions, knowledge and know-how base of biomaterial development of RTU RBIDC will be updated to the internationally competitive and interdisciplinary research level.

Significant improvement in the overall scientific and innovation capacity of the RTU RBIDC (in the field of biomaterials for bone tissue regeneration) has been achieved and will continue through constructive and sustainable partnerships, achieved between research and innovation-intensive institutions of excellence and the partnering organisation in the low performing Member State.

By the end of the RISEus2, following impacts have been achieved:
1) The RTU RBIDC publication impact factor in the field of biomaterials has increased 2 times (107%), reaching IF = 5.343.
2) The number of peer-reviewed publications in the field of biomaterials has increased for 181% (from 11 publications in 2020 up to 31 publications in 2023) at RTU RBIDC.
3) ESRs publication impact factor in the field of Biomaterials has increased for 4.6 times (366 %) (from IF=1.15 to IF=5.361).
4) The number of ESRs research papers co-authored with international partners has increased. ESRs being the first authors (4 out of 6 RISEus2 acknowledged published publications) and co-authors (2 out of 6 RISEus2 acknowledged published publications).
5) 42 ESRs and six postdoctoral students were trained within the three RISEus2 Summer Schools, 44 ESRs and six postdoctoral students were trained within the three RISEus2 Winter Schools, and six ESR mobility visits were implemented.
6) RISEus2 consortium has developed a database of enterprises/SMEs and excellent research centres, indicating possible future collaboration partners for RTU RBIDC and other consortium members.
7) In total, nine competitive funding project proposals and one ERC grant application were submitted.
8) RTU RBIDC is represented via membership in 3 main EU biomaterials research and development related societies (ScSB, ESB, TERMIS) thus maintaining visibility in ERA and ensuring new and strengthening existing international collaborations.

ESRs in Toulouse for Summer School

ESRs at RTU RBIDC

ESR presenting scientific results at international conference

RISEus2 Project logo

Training at Winter School

Training at Winter School