Running from 2025 to 2029, the project will focus on developing sustainable and advanced road materials. The research will include extending the life cycle of asphalt pavements using data from embedded sensors, creating 3D-printed concrete from local raw materials, and enhancing concrete performance with fibre reinforcement.
To build research capacity, the project will engage 16 undergraduate students, 8 postgraduate students, 4 PhD candidates, and 3 postdoctoral researchers, all of whom will collaborate closely with experts from RTU and Empa. Additionally, 16 high school students will gain early research experience.
Students participating in the project will have the unique opportunity to visit Empa’s laboratories in Switzerland to conduct their research. PhD candidates and postdoctoral researchers are to spend up to a year in Switzerland, while Master’s students will undertake shorter research visits.
Additionally, the project plans to carry out Winter Schools, facilitate participation in international scientific conferences, and promote knowledge transfer to industry, among other activities.
LACHMAT is one of two projects under the “Applied Research” program, which aims to enhance applied research capabilities and foster collaboration between Latvia and Switzerland in the fields of innovative materials, information and communication technologies (ICT), and smart energy.
The “Applied Research” program is financed with €12.3 million, of which 85% comes from Swiss funding and 15% from the Latvian state budget. The program will enhance the research and innovation capacity in Latvia, supporting economic transformation and sustainable growth. Latvian research institutions will collaborate with Swiss counterparts on joint projects, improving research quality and increasing the number of highly skilled professionals with advanced technological expertise.
The program also features activities designed to spark interest and deepen understanding of advanced technologies among young people, particularly girls.
