Past Events
Project Natalion represented at the Balticum Organicum Syntheticum 2024
We're thrilled to share that Dr. Anna Stikane represented project Natalion at the Balticum Organicum Syntheticum 2024 in Riga, Latvia on July 7–10. This esteemed biennial organic chemistry conference, which rotates through Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius, serves as a pivotal platform for showcasing advancements and fostering global collaborations in synthetic organic chemistry.
Anna presented the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) and highlighted project Natalion to a diverse audience of academia and industry professionals. This was a valuable opportunity to establish new contacts and potential collaborations that will propel LIOS research and innovation forward.
Participation of Dr. Chin-Soon Phan in PhD thesis defence as external examiner
On June 18, 2024, Dr. Chin-Soon Phan served as the external examiner for Giang Nam Pham who successfully defended his PhD thesis with impressive discoveries in the marine fungal natural products. During his visit at the Université Côte d'Azur, Dr. Chin-Soon Phan had discussion about Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis and project Natalion with the PhD candidate's supervisors Prof. Mohamed Mehiri and Prof. Laurent Boyer and Jury Members Prof. Valeria Costantino and Prof. Giovanna Cristina Varese.
Dr. Elina Priede represents project Natalion in a round table discussion on innovation promotion
On June 6, 2024, Dr. Elina Priede participated in a round table discussion on innovation promotion with Jan Sandred, Program Director at the Department of Innovation Management and Horizon Europe Program Committee Expert, Vinnova. The discussion was organized by the Embassy of Sweden in Latvia in cooperation with the Latvian Council of Science and served as a fruitful space for sharing the experience of Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis and project Natalion in promotion of innovation.
Internal workshop on pitching organized by project Natalion
On June 11, 2024, a pitching workshop at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis was led by Andrii Shekhirev, the founder of non-governmental organization Biocatalyst Foundation. This event was a great opportunity for all participants to enhance their pitching skills and learn valuable insights. The participants of the internal workshop learned:
🔹 Pitching Fundamentals: What, why, when, and how to pitch effectively.
🔹 Tailoring Your Pitch: Strategies to adapt your pitch to different audiences.
🔹 Tips and Tricks: Real-life demonstrations from start-ups.
🔹 Practical Tips: Essential advice for preparing and delivering a compelling pitch.
Dr. Anna Stikane participates in ASTP Annual Conference
Dr. Anna Stikane attended the ASTP Annual Conference (Sevilla, Spain, May 22–24, 2024), which served as a valuable networking platform to exchange knowledge with other technology transfer specialists on many different aspects and details of technology transfer ranging from contracts, deal terms, and partners for innovation to commercialization.
Dr. Anna Stikane attends Deep Tech Atelier 2024
Dr. Anna Stikane participated in Deep Tech Atelier 2024 (Riga, Latvia, May 16–17, 2024) – conference, which gathers researchers, innovators, technology transfer specialists, policy makers, and investors. This was a great opportunity for Anna to communicate with representatives from all of these areas and share the experience of Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis and project Natalion in promotion of innovation.
Dr. Anna Stikane participates in organization of Riga BioHack event
Dr. Anna Stikane participated in Riga BioHack event (Riga, Latvia, May 15, 2024), which was organized by the Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence and Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis and was focused on biomedicine. This was an event bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, and mentors to explore commercial applications of 8 biomedical research ideas.
Prof. Aigars Jirgensons participates in round table discussion 'How to close the European Union's research and innovation gap among member states?'
On May 9, 2024, Prof. Aigars Jirgensons participated in round table discussion 'How to close the European Union's research and innovation gap among EU member states?' organized by the Ministry of Education and Science. During the debate, Latvia's position in the creation of the new European Union Framework Programme was discussed. The discussion was attended by Minister of Education and Science Anda Čakša, Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis, representatives of universities and research centers, as well as companies supporting science.
Dr. Chin-Soon Phan visits Chang Gung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan
Dr. Chin-Soon Phan, the leader of the Natural Products Research group at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS), had the honor of being invited as a visiting lecturer at the Chang Gung University of Science and Technology in Taoyuan, Taiwan (May 5–17, 2024). It was a fantastic opportunity for Dr. Chin-Soon Phan to deliver a lecture to the talented master's students and engage with the academic community. During the visit, Dr. Chin-Soon Phan promoted the visibility of project Natalion and LIOS. The aim was to initiate fruitful collaborations and attract talented Taiwanese postgraduate students and postdoc candidates to join the research community at LIOS.
Exploring Antibacterial Frontiers: Project Natalion Featured at the 'Achievements of SPRINGBOARD Project' Conference
The recent conference 'Achievements of SPRINGBOARD Project', held in Riga, Latvia on May 2–3, 2024, allowed for the sharing of achievements in antimicrobial drug development. One of the highlights was the insightful presentation 'Microbial Natural Products and Their Antibacterial Activities' by Dr. Chin-Soon Phan. His expertise in natural products research shed light on new avenues in antibacterial research.
Dr. Chin-Soon Phan participates in the 9th Asian Pacific Phycological Forum
Dr. Chin-Soon Phan, leader of the Natural Products Research group, recently took part in the 9th Asian Pacific Phycological Forum (APPF) held in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan (April 14–18, 2024). As an invited speaker, Dr. Chin-Soon Phan presented on 'Microbial Natural Products', shedding light on the impactful research conducted at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis. The conference served as a remarkable platform for knowledge exchange and networking, leading to several potential future collaborations with researchers from Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore.
Project Natalion represented in Job Shadow Day 2024
As part of the Job Shadow Day initiative, on April 4, 2024, Vic Kiselov introduced two motivated and talented students to the natural products research at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS). The students had an opportunity to find out more about the newly established Natural Products Research group and project Natalion as well as get an insight into researcher’s working day at LIOS.
Dr. Chin-Soon Phan participates in Webinar on Marine Natural Products
On March 11, 2024, Dr. Chin-Soon Phan participated in a webinar organized by the Asian Society of Natural Products with presentation 'Natural Products Chemistry – from Marine to Microbes'. This webinar gathered approximately 100 researchers working in the field of natural products.
Project Natalion continues the 'Snack of Science' series of events
It was a pleasure to welcome technology transfer specialists Danielle Counotte, Yannick CAMPION, and Petra Kurzawski at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) during the second 'Snack of Science' event (March 19, 2024). The participants of the meeting discussed how the technology transfer processes are organized at different institutions and about the team effort that goes in supporting academic inventions together with researchers. The discussion was followed by a tour showing the chemistry, kilo-scale synthesis, biotechnology, and pharmacology facilities used for drug discovery and development at LIOS.
Project Natalion at the 'Career Day 2024' exhibition in Riga
On March 8, project Natalion was showcased at the 'Career Day 2024' inspiring students to pursue careers in science and at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis. The exhibition 'Career Day' serves as a platform for top companies to inform students about internships and job opportunities in engineering, natural, and social sciences.
Exploring nature's treasures at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
On February 9, 2024, researchers at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis had an opportunity to participate in a webinar led by Dr. Chin-Soon Phan and find out more about the natural products chemistry as well as the activities of the newly established Natural Products Research group.
Project Natalion launches 'Snack of Science' event at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
On February 1, 2024, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) hosted Dr. Roberts Rimsa, CTO and co-founder of Cellbox Labs, at the first 'Snack of Science' event. As a delightful blend of science and networking, 'Snack of Science' aims to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration within the scientific community.
Cellbox Labs is a start up combining research expertise of the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia and Latvian Biomedical Research and Study centre. Cellbox Labs develops organ on a chip technology integrating human cells within microfluidics channels to mimic organ structures. Such organs on chips are already being used globally in pharmacology and medicine, for example, to test drug efficiency in pre-clinical research and development.
Roberts shared his experience in commercializing his research and founding a start up and provided tips and tricks on how to survive before acquiring venture capital (VC) funding, how to combine various grants to increase the technology readiness level, and how to establish relationship with various pharma companies and VCs.
Dr. Anna Stikane participates in ASTP training course 'Marketing and Business Development in Knowledge Transfer'
On January 24–26, 2024, Dr. Anna Stikane attended the ASTP training course "Marketing and Business Development in Knowledge Transfer" in Sitges, Spain. This was a well-designed course, in which many case studies were used to practice formulating strategy, value proposition, productive conversations, and cultivating strong relationships and cooperation. Equally valuable were the experience and knowledge exchange with other technology transfer professionals from across Europe. Anna is looking forward to applying what she has learned in her role at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) Innovation Hub and contributing to the advancement of LIOS technology development.
Dr. Chin-Soon Phan visits NAICONS
On January 10–12, 2024, Dr. Chin-Soon Phan visited NAICONS Srl (Milan, Italy), a biotechnology company with well-established experience in natural products research, to meet Dr. Stefano Donadio, the project Natalion ERA Chair holder, and his group. During the visit, Dr. Chin-Soon Phan participated in insightful discussion with Dr. Stefano Donadio covering the research directions of the Natural Products Research group at Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) and possible ways, in which NAICONS can support the natural products research at LIOS.
Roundtable discussion 'Business & Science'
On December 14, Dr. Chin-Soon Phan, the Head of Natural Products Research group, participated in discussion 'Business & Science', which gathered the research group leaders from LIOS and members of the Association of the Latvian Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry. Dr. Chin-Soon Phan presented the main research directions of his group, emphasized the importance of natural products research at institutional, national, and EU level, and indicated the possible opportunities for collaboration between academia and industry.
Project Natalion at the 3rd Scientific Conference of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
Within the framework of the 3rd Scientific Conference of the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (November 28–29, 2023, Riga), project NATALION welcomed Sigvards Krongorns with presentation 'Investor Readiness 101: First Steps in Commercialization'. During the presentation, Sigvards Krongorns provided an insight into technology commercialization and shared his experience in the field of health innovations and establishment of start-ups.
Sigvards Krongorns is a partner in the Verge HealthTech Fund and one of the founders of company 'CastPrint'. 'CastPrint' offers treatment for various types of bone fractures using individually adapted 3D printed retainers.
The iGEM 2023 Grand Jamboree
Dr. Anna Stikāne, the Head of LIOS Innovation Hub, took the exciting opportunity to participate in the iGEM 2023 Grand Jamboree – the World Expo of Synthetic Biology (November 2–5, 2023). During the exhibition, Dr. Anna Stikāne participated in the iGEM Startups programme supporting iGEM Latvia–Riga team – the winner of the iGEM 2023 Grand Jamboree Gold Medal for Best Genetic Part. Bringing together researchers, industry representatives, startup founders, investors, journalists, experts in governance and policy, and general public, the Grand Jamboree was also a great networking event, which allowed Dr. Anna Stikāne to build new connections for future collaborations within project NATALION.
Project Natalion presented at the 31st International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products and the 11th International Congress on Biodiversity
During the workshop 'Accelerating natural product discovery by academic and industrial collaborative initiatives' organized by the European Research Infrastructure Consortium for chemical biology and early drug discovery EU-OPENSCREEN in the frame of the 31st International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products and the 11th International Congress on Biodiversity (October 15–19, 2023, Naples), Prof. Aigars Jirgensons shared the experience of Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis in participating in European collaborative initiatives. These initiatives aim to expand the availability of high-quality, annotated natural product-based libraries for drug discovery projects.
Dr. Anna Stikāne participates in the first Latvian innovation ecosystem summit Innovate360°
On September 29, 2023, Dr. Anna Stikāne participated in the first Latvian innovation ecosystem summit Innovate360° organized by Riga Technical University (RTU) Science and Innovation Centre. The event gathered esteemed experts from leading innovation countries, such as Adi Yoffe and Irit Idan from Israel, who shared their experience of what makes Israel famous as the country of successful startups. Other speakers shared their knowledge of open innovation gathering diverse range of stakeholders (Kristaps Banga, Accenture Baltics) and the structural challenges specific for Latvia (Robert Grundke, OECD). Within the event, panel discussions highlighting the role of education for developing innovation mindset from schools to universities were also organized.
Innovate360° was a valuable opportunity for Dr. Anna Stikāne to connect with other attendees – technology transfer professionals from RTU, consulting professionals interested in connecting with chemistry and pharmacology experts, specialists from open-source research software development, as well as other members developing biotechnology sub-ecosystem within the larger innovation ecosystem of Latvia.
Prof. Karl-Heinz Altmann visiting LIOS
On May 25, 2023, Prof. Karl-Heinz Altmann (ETH Zurich), a member of the External Advisory Board of project Natalion, gave an insightful lecture 'Total Synthesis and Functional Exploration of Macrocyclic Natural Products' at LIOS.
