On October 17, the KICT and the Riga Technical University’s Institute of Energy Systems and Environment (RTU IESE) signed an MOU for environmental and energy cooperation and held the Korea-Latvia Environmental Technology Partnership Forum in Riga, the capital of Latvia

Representing the two signatories at the ceremony were Team Leader Son Min-soo of the KICT’s Korean Peninsula Infrastructure Cooperation Team and Director of the RTU IESE Dagnija Blumberga. Also in attendance were Korean Ambassador to Latvia Lee Dong-kyu, Rector of Riga Technical University Talis Juhna, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology at Riga Technical University Maris Turks, and Professor Kim Joon-beom of the University of Technology of Troyes.

The MOU will see the KICT and RTU IESE cooperate in sustainable environmental and energy technology, exchange personnel, and build foundations for international joint R&D. Accordingly, the two partners will engage in joint research of innovative energy solutions, environmental sustainability, and climate recovery, share knowledge through joint R&D projects and academic exchanges, and engage in technology transfers and policy cooperation in the areas of energy systems and environmental management. Conferences and workshops will be jointly organized and held by the KICT and RTU IESE to address issues related to sustainability and the environment.

Established in 1862, Riga Technical University was the first polytechnic institute founded in Russia. It became part of the University of Latvia, established in 1918, and adopted its current name in 1990.