The newly established National Research and Innovation Institute (NIRI) is set to deliver one of Latvia’s most ambitious science and public health initiatives over the next six years – a €30 million project funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme to establish a nationwide wastewater monitoring system.
The project will create a permanent monitoring network across Latvia, enabling the regular analysis of wastewater to detect chemical and toxic substances, pharmaceutical residues and disease-causing pathogens.
By providing early warning of emerging public health risks, the system will help authorities respond more effectively to potential threats to human health and safety.
The initiative will also be among the first major demonstrations of the added value generated by bringing together Latvia’s two leading research institutions – the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (OSI) and the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC) – within a single research organisation.
This project is a tangible contribution to Latvia’s development and marks the beginning of NIRI’s journey. The establishment of the new institute is not merely an administrative merger – it represents the next stage in the evolution of Latvian science. By combining the expertise of both institutes, we are creating new momentum towards scientific excellence and strengthening our capacity to deliver internationally competitive projects.
Dace Kārkle, Acting Director of NIRI
The project was conceived by Professor Jānis Kloviņš, Head of NIRI’s Precision Medicine Group. According to Professor Kloviņš, the initiative will include the creation of a digital twin of Latvia’s wastewater system – a digital replica that will be continuously updated with real-time data.
This will enable researchers and public authorities to monitor developments across the wastewater network, anticipate potential risks and make faster, evidence-based decisions to protect public health.
In addition to NIRI, the project brings together the Latvian University of Science and Technology (formerly Riga Technical University), the state scientific institute BIOR, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the University of Dundee.
Dace Kārkle believes the strength of the new institute lies in the synergy between its different areas of expertise. “BMC has outstanding capabilities in molecular biology and health data, while OSI is internationally recognised for its strengths in chemistry and drug discovery. Today, the most promising scientific breakthroughs emerge where these disciplines intersect. By joining forces, we can develop entirely new research directions and offer them to both international academic partners and industry.”
NIRI is already establishing itself as an internationally competitive research centre. In the international evaluation of scientific institutions published in April this year, the joint OSI-BMC entity received the highest possible rating, placing it among Latvia’s leading scientific institutions.
Looking ahead, the institute will continue to focus on solutions that help people live healthier and longer lives – from developing new medicines and therapies to advancing personalised medicine, health data analytics and public health monitoring systems.
The National Research and Innovation Institute (NIRI) is a European-scale life and natural sciences centre bringing together the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (OSI) and the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre (BMC). NIRI will begin operating as a unified research organisation on 1 June 2026.
The institute’s mission is to advance world-class research and innovation in the development of new medicines, diagnostics and treatment methods, personalised medicine, biotechnology and public health. By combining the expertise of more than 400 scientists specialising in chemistry, molecular biology, medicine and health data analytics, NIRI aims to create the Baltic region’s strongest platform for drug discovery and medical technology development.
SOURCE
Džoanna Eglīte, NIRI
