On January 20 at 12:00, the headquarters of the Baltic Biomaterials Centre of Excellence (BBCE) will be officially opened in the Riga Technical University (RTU) student campus in Ķīpsala, at Paula Valdena Street 3, K-1. This facility will focus on researching and developing biomaterials, essentially "spare parts" for the human body, used to repair bones and soft tissues, as well as for treatments in facial, oral, and jaw surgery, orthopedics, and other areas.

“Innovative biomaterials are the future of personalized regenerative medicine,” emphasizes Professor Jānis Ločs, Coordinator of the BBCE project and faculty member at RTU’s Faculty of Materials Science and Applied Chemistry. Currently, BBCE scientists are collaborating with local and international academic and industrial partners to develop advanced biomaterials and drug delivery systems. These systems allow controlled, localized release of active substances, improving treatment efficiency and patient comfort by targeting damaged tissues directly. Researchers are also working on "organ-on-a-chip" technologies for drug testing, including applications for personalized rheumatoid arthritis treatments. The advanced scientific equipment in the new center will further expand the possibilities for innovative biomaterial research, including the development of materials for 3D printing human organs.

The new building serves as BBCE’s headquarters and is built on the foundation of RTU’s Rudolfs Cimdins Riga Biomaterials Innovation and Development Centre. It features an energy-efficient, smart design with modern facilities for research, education, and the transfer of products from laboratory to market. The center houses state-of-the-art chemistry labs, clean rooms, laboratories for in vitro studies, implant prototyping, and spaces for conferences and research activities. Over 20 advanced scientific instruments have been acquired for the facility, including a 3D bioprinter for tissue printing, an X-ray microtomograph for detailed material structure analysis without damage, and a scanning electron microscope capable of measuring nanoparticle coatings. The building’s construction cost nearly €5.7 million, with approximately €3 million invested in scientific equipment.