Riga Photonics Centre

Riga Photonics Centre is an association registered under the laws of Latvia with Reg. 40008243048 as “Rīgas Fotonikas centrs” (RFC) on 2 October 2015. The founders are individuals involved with the Framework 7 Regpot project FOTONIKA-LV that was funded by the EU Commission at €3.8 million from o1.02.2012 to 31.07.2015 to “Unlock and Boost Research Potential for Photonics in Latvia.” The vision of the founders was that RFC would continue the outreach and coordination work involving photonics research, SMEs and the public that had been underway during the FOTONIKA-LV project. RFC was granted the status of a not-for-profit charitable organization under the laws of Latvia on 05 June 2017 with a charitable purpose to advance science in Latvia. Donations to RFC are tax-deductible. RFC can also receive grants from EU and national funds to execute projects that fulfill its charter to advance science in Latvia and to boost photonics research, development, manufacturing, and use in Latvia. There is an emerging photonics cluster in Latvia with over 30 SMEs and over ten research institutes and organizations heavily involved in photonics research and development with a credible potential to achieve turnover in excess of one billion euros by 2030 through effective implementation of the Latvia’s Smart Specialization Strategy recognizing the role of photonics as a Key Enabling Technology.