Jānis Rižikovs, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry

Dr. sc. ing. Jānis Rižikovs is a leading researcher and Head of the Biorefinery Laboratory at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry. His work focuses on biomass thermal and chemical processing, including pyrolysis, hydrothermal treatment, extraction, and biorefinery system design. He is internationally recognized for pioneering birch bark valorization, developing technologies for obtaining betulin, suberinic acids, and bio‑based adhesives. His team has contributed to industrial innovations such as BetulinLab and Suberbinder, and he has played key roles in European research projects including VIOBOND and BarkBuild. He also serves on scientific committees in Latvia and EU research programs.

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Birch bark is no longer a low‑value residue but a strategic renewable resource. Through sustainable biorefinery approaches, it can be transformed into high‑performance materials, ecological binders, and bioactive compounds — demonstrating how science‑industry collaboration accelerates the shift toward a circular, forest‑based economy.