The fourth competition for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) doctoral grants at the University of Latvia (UL) has concluded, awarding a total of 15 grants. Doctoral candidates whose dissertation topics contribute to achieving the goals of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation Strategy and the development of its priority areas were invited to apply.
Doctoral grants have been awarded to 15 University of Latvia doctoral students, including two representatives from the field of medicine and health, nine from the natural sciences, and four from the social sciences. Five grant recipients will work at the UL Faculty of Science and Technology, four at the UL Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, two at the UL Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, and four at the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre.
The fourth doctoral grant competition was open to doctoral students in their second or later years of study, as well as individuals who have successfully completed a UL doctoral programme, to carry out research at the University of Latvia or partner institutions: the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, the UL Institute of Solid State Physics, or the UL Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science.
The University of Latvia organises the competition in line with its areas of expertise and research strategies, providing support through doctoral grants to help achieve the objectives of Latvia’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3) and to advance the following priority areas: knowledge-intensive bioeconomy; biomedicine, medical technologies and pharmacy; photonics and smart materials, technologies and engineering systems; smart energy and mobility; information and communication technologies.
A doctoral grant is funding awarded through an internal competition to support research activities related to doctoral studies and the successful development of a doctoral thesis.
Each applicant will be informed individually of the competition results via email.
The grant competition is organised by the University of Latvia within the ERDF co-funded project “Strengthening the Research and Development Capacity of Doctoral Studies at the University of Latvia in Smart Specialisation Areas” (No. 1.1.1.8/1/24/I/003), in cooperation with the BA School of Business and Finance, the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, the UL Institute of Solid State Physics, and the UL Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science. The project is implemented from 1 March 2025 to 31 October 2029. The total project funding amounts to EUR 5,556,906.88, including ERDF co-financing of EUR 4,723,370.85 and a state budget contribution of EUR 833,536.03.