Smart Windows for Zero Energy Buildings

The aim of the Smart Windows for Zero Energy Buildings (SWEB) project is to develop world-leading research on functional materials and their SWEB applications, to advance teaching capacity and to foster institutional governance changes towards excellence and sustainability. Institute of Solid State Physics (ISSP) of the University of Latvia is the leader of Functional Materials and Coating research in Latvia. It concentrates significant resources in materials research, testing, advanced training, and innovation. ISSP key technologies are based on inorganic and organic thin film deposition on a wide variety of materials, using different advanced deposition techniques from existing and new tools. The deposition tools are operated by highly skilled staff, enabling the deposition of novel materials as required by internal research projects and external customers. Currently several ongoing research projects aim at the development of novel advanced materials and coatings for SWEB. ERA Chair SWEB will establish high-quality researcher and expert team by synergistically merging chromogenic SW materials and complementary competencies at ISSP and bridging the gap between research and technology transfer. The knowledge gained will increase research excellence, visibility, and attractiveness of ISSP and Latvia in general, thus enhancing participation in ERA. Furthermore, these ambitious research and innovation goals targeting emerging next-generation chromogenic SW development will lay the foundation for further technical development and innovative production of SWEB in other regions of the EU. Ultimately, society as a whole will benefit from excellent job opportunities for specialists, more youths are drawn to prestigious technology and engineering-oriented higher education, a bridge between R&D and the public, and consumers will indirectly benefit from shorter prototype to market development cycles of targeted chromogenic SW.