On Monday, 25 November, the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) welcomed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Latvia, Noura Juma. The visit aimed to showcase the Baltics’ leading research institute, highlight its scientific expertise and state-of-the-art facilities, and explore opportunities for collaboration with UAE businesses.
“Seeing everything in person is completely different from reading or hearing about it,” remarked the Ambassador after touring several LIOS laboratories and meeting their heads. “Such modern resources, innovative ideas, and immense potential, all in one place!”
Ambassador Noura Juma expressed particular interest in PrintyMed, a startup supported by LIOS. The company is pioneering the use of spider silk materials to develop groundbreaking medical products, including surgical sutures, heart valve implants, and drug delivery capsules—solutions poised to transform the future of medicine.
The technology for spider silk production was developed in LIOS’s Central Nervous System Active Compounds Laboratory, where scientists are refining the material’s properties and exploring its practical applications in healthcare. Significant investment will be essential to translate these scientific achievements into market-ready products, with the potential for extraordinary success.
“I am truly impressed! I need some time to identify the right entrepreneurs from my country to bring into this collaboration, ensuring a partnership that is both valuable and forward-looking. I see great opportunities here!” the Ambassador concluded.
