LACISE Representatives Explore Switzerland’s Innovation Journey from Lab to Market
From 14 to 17 September, representatives of Latvia’s public administration, research institutions, and industry took part in an experience-exchange visit to Switzerland, including Gints Kučinskis, Coordinator of the LACISE project, and Anna Mutule, LACISE project representative. The visit focused on the commercialisation of research results, technology transfer, and building effective collaboration between science and industry.
The delegation brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Finance, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, the Institute of Electronics and Computer Science, Riga Technical University, LAU Infra Group, and the Association of the Latvian Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry.
Over four days, participants gained insight into the entire innovation lifecycle, from research policy and funding mechanisms to technology transfer, industry collaboration, and the successful introduction of new solutions to the market. The Latvian delegation met with representatives of the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), Innosuisse, and the Swiss National Science Foundation, and visited leading Swiss innovation and research organisations, including the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), Park Innovaare, the knowledge and technology transfer centre ANAXAM, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa). Together, these visits showcased different stages of the innovation value chain, from policymaking and funding to industry collaboration, technology transfer, and real-world application.
Gints Kučinskis, LACISE Project Coordinator:
The visit not only helped strengthen existing partnerships but also provided valuable insight into how Switzerland successfully ensures that innovations developed through research reach industry and deliver tangible benefits to society.
Latvian delegation visits LACISE partner organisation, the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM)
From Research Results to Real-World Impact
One key takeaway from the visit was that innovation requires more than funding alone. For a scientific idea to evolve into a market-ready product or technology, it needs a supportive ecosystem that combines research infrastructure, expert knowledge, prototyping capabilities, technology validation, and close cooperation with industry.
The delegation observed this approach in practice across several Swiss institutions. For example, CSEM develops technologies together with industrial partners, PSI helps research results reach companies, while ANAXAM provides businesses with access to advanced analytical methods and research infrastructure that would otherwise be difficult and costly to establish independently.
Particular attention was also given to methods for engaging companies earlier in the research process and creating effective mechanisms for research commercialisation. The Swiss example demonstrates that successful innovation ecosystems are built on long-term collaboration between science, industry, and the public sector.
Representatives of the Latvian delegation visit the Swiss Light Source (SLS) at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), a synchrotron radiation facility used for research in materials science, biology and chemistry.
Early Industry Engagement Is a Prerequisite for Success
According to Andris Anspoks, Director of the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia, which is the coordinating institution of the LACISE project, Switzerland’s experience highlights the importance of considering practical applications from the earliest stages of research:
Switzerland’s success is rooted in long-term investment in science-driven innovation. From the very beginning, every idea needs both a customer and a clear objective: commercialisation. For innovation to succeed, patience and continuous development are essential, supported by trust and the freedom to make mistakes. The Swiss model demonstrates that this approach works. Latvia has the same opportunity to invest today in technologies that will define our exports and competitiveness ten years from now.
The visit also underscored the importance of incremental innovation. Breakthrough inventions are not the only drivers of economic growth. Smaller technological improvements can significantly enhance productivity and competitiveness, particularly in economies where small and medium-sized enterprises play a dominant role.
Collaboration between universities and industry is equally important. Switzerland provides a strong example of how the early involvement of industry partners can accelerate the development of new technologies and increase their chances of reaching the market successfully.
This perspective is echoed by Maira Indrikova, Vice-Rector for Research at Riga Technical University, another LACISE partner institution:
Switzerland is a country from which we can learn a great deal about successful innovation. One of the most important prerequisites is close collaboration between industry and universities from the earliest stages of research. This visit was truly inspiring, offering new insights, valuable connections, and shared ideas for future projects. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to meet so many like-minded professionals and to continue building partnerships that can evolve into real-world solutions.
During a visit to the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).
Strong Ecosystems Drive Technology Transfer
Modris Greitāns, Director of the Institute of Electronics and Computer Science and representative of a LACISE partner institution, emphasised the value of learning from Switzerland’s approach to technology transfer and intellectual property management:
The visits to CSEM, PSI, ZHAW and Empa provided an excellent opportunity to see first-hand how Switzerland has built a research and innovation ecosystem that closely connects science, the public sector and industry. It was particularly valuable to observe how non-profit research institutes operating through public-private partnerships function, as well as how intellectual property management and technology transfer are organised in a straightforward and efficient manner. Switzerland’s success in fostering high-tech companies, including innovative SMEs, demonstrates that this approach delivers results. Latvia can learn a great deal from this experience, both in shaping research and innovation policy and in organising institutional cooperation, technology transfer and knowledge commercialisation.
Valuable Lessons for the Future of LACISE
The visit provided not only an opportunity to compare Latvian and Swiss approaches to innovation but also highlighted issues that are particularly relevant to the goals of the LACISE project: engaging companies earlier in the research process, strengthening collaboration between research organisations and industry, improving technology transfer mechanisms, and ensuring that research results generate tangible value for society and the economy.
For the LACISE consortium, the experience offers valuable insights that will support the project’s continued implementation and strengthen collaboration between Latvian and Swiss research organisations, fostering innovation and accelerating the practical application of research in future energy and technology solutions.
The experience-exchange visit was organised within the framework of the Swiss-Latvian Cooperation Programme “Partnership in Applied Research: Innovative Materials, ICT and Smart Energy”, which promotes cooperation between Latvian and Swiss research institutions in applied research and supports the practical application of research results.
Further information about the Swiss-:Latvian programme available here.