EDI and LBTU strengthen long-term cooperation – working together towards new achievements
On December 16, 2024, a meeting took place at the Institute of Electronics and Computer Science (EDI), attended by EDI director Modris Greitāns, Deputy director for development Kaspars Ozols, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) rector Irina Arhipova, and vice rector for research Gatis Vītols. This meeting marked a significant step towards fostering closer strategic cooperation between both institutions in the fields of science, technology development, and innovation.
During the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their intention to sign a strategic partnership agreement that will strengthen the already existing, long-standing, and successful cooperation between EDI and LBTU. The planned agreement will serve as the foundation for joint research projects, the promotion of scientific publications and innovations, securing funding, expanding mutual cooperation, as well as enhancing knowledge and competencies. It will also encourage the exchange of experiences and support the mobility of students and researchers.
This collaboration will provide EDI with the opportunity to showcase various developed technologies in real-world applications, particularly in agriculture, biotechnology, and the food industry. Meanwhile, LBTU will be able to practically apply the modern technologies developed by EDI in areas such as microelectronics, the Internet of things, artificial intelligence, and others to address current industry challenges.
In addition, LBTU students will have the opportunity to develop academic and qualification theses under the supervision of experienced EDI mentors in promising research fields, as well as gain practical experience. EDI researchers, on the other hand, will be able to contribute to LBTU's study programs by delivering lectures in fields like microelectronics, the Internet of Things, sensors, artificial intelligence, robotics, and more. This will further promote the development of competencies at both institutions and generate mutual benefits.
"Cooperation between EDI and LBTU is a story of mutual benefit," emphasized EDI director Modris Greitāns. "By combining EDI's exceptional competence in new technology research and development with LBTU's broad fundamental knowledge base, we will be able to achieve even higher results in both research and innovation development."
LBTU rector Irina Arhipova highlighted: "This collaboration is an opportunity to create the next generation of scientists in technology fields that are crucial to the Latvian economy and to provide technological solutions that will strengthen both Latvian science and the national economy."
During the meeting, LBTU representatives visited EDI's laboratories, where they learned about the institute's current research and projects. Demonstrated technologies included robotic and drone systems, biometric solutions, wearable technologies, microchip and embedded system solutions, Internet of Things applications, remote sensing solutions, artificial intelligence technologies, and self-driving cars. These technologies clearly demonstrate EDI's technological leadership and its significant contribution to the development of the innovation ecosystem. When combined with LBTU's extensive expertise in fields such as agriculture, biotechnology, and food technology, they provide promising opportunities to create ambitious collaborative projects.
At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed on specific next steps to further promote cooperation, which, by combining the strengths and expertise of both institutions, will make a significant contribution to the development of Latvian science and technology.