Academic CentreThe Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia (ISSP UL) celebrates its 40-year anniversary in 2018. From the beginning to today, the Institute has maintained international recognition and is the leading research centre in Latvia. The Institute currently employs around 100 high-skilled doctors of science, conducting internationally competitive research, educating students and offering innovative research solutions for industrial needs.
In 2001, the European Commission recognised the international competence of the ISSP UL, awarding it with the title “Excellence Centre of Material Research and Technology”. Whereas in 2013, in the Technopolis Group's evaluation of Latvian scientific institutions the ISSP UL obtained the highest rating among institutions in the fields of natural sciences and mathematics, and was recognised as the second best research institution in Latvia as a whole.
The Institute is currently the only scientific institute in the countries of the Baltic Sea region that got the 2nd phase funding from the European Commission's Horizon 2020 programme “Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation” for the implementation of the project “The Excellence Centre of Advanced Material Research and Technology Transfer”.
The main research directions of the ISSP UL are:
- functional materials for electronics and photonics;
- nanotechnologies, nanocomposites and ceramics;
- thin layer and coating technologies;
- theoretical and experimental research of material structure and properties.
The Institute's scientists are actively involved in the education process of students of the UL Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Optometry. In addition, students from other UL faculties, other universities and even students from different Latvian schools test their theories and develop scientific work in the Institute's laboratories.
Both new and experienced researchers from the ISSP UL organise and participate in a variety of educational and social activities, trying to attract and motivate young talented people to build their careers in natural sciences.
