Baltics' largest life sciences centre to be established in Latvia

The Scientific Councils of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) and the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC) have made a historic decision to establish a new research organisation – the largest life sciences centre in the Baltics – by merging both institutes. As the LIOS and BMC are Latvia’s strongest research institutes in their respective fields, by combining their competences and strengths, the new organisation has huge potential to become a major player on both a Baltic and European level. The merger is to take place by 30 June 2026. 

The new research centre aims to become a national Centre of Excellence in the RIS3 area of biomedicine, medical technology and pharmaceuticals. It plans to cooperate with Latvia’s universities to contribute to raising the next generation of specialists. 

For LIOS and BMC scientists, the consolidation will foster even better research and knowledge exchange, as well as significantly increase the diversity and accessibility of research infrastructure. 

“By employing more than 500 researchers and generating annual turnover of more than €22 million, the newly created institution would be the third largest player in the Latvian science ecosystem. Latvia has so far been able to compete with world leaders in scientific excellence in the biomedical field, and this merger will ensure not only human capital development, but also the overall growth and economic transformation of Latvia,” said Anda Čakša, Minister of Education and Science.

Over the next two years, both the LIOS and BMC Scientific Councils and administrations will work to establish the new management system. The institutes have agreed and firmly committed not to lose the strengths of their respective governance and research that have enabled them to become the strong research organisations they are today. The institutes have also decided to maintain their brands: LIOS and BMC. External consultants will help ensure the success of the consolidation process. The merger will be funded through the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Source: Press release (www.labsoflatvia.com)
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