Summer School on Biomedical Innovations through Digital Transformation – Riga Technical University, Latvia – July 20-30, 2026
From July 20–30, 2026, Riga Technical University hosted the BIOMEDIX Summer School, organised within the Erasmus+ project BIOMEDIX (KA220-HED-2024-1-LV01-KA220-HED-000255929). The event brought together students from Biomedical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Computer Science to work on a common biomedical engineering challenge.
Unlike traditional summer schools, the programme focused on project-based learning. Participants worked in international multidisciplinary teams to design and manufacture a multimaterial anatomical neck phantom for medical education and medical imaging applications.
During ten intensive days, students completed the entire engineering workflow – from CT image segmentation and digital modelling to FDM and SLA 3D printing, silicone casting, phantom assembly, and CT validation. The programme combined practical workshops with lectures from academic, industrial and clinical experts, providing participants with hands-on experience in modern medical manufacturing technologies.
Practical activities were organised in close collaboration with the Medical Education Technology Centre (MITC) of Rīga Stradiņš University, where participants received training in medical image segmentation using Materialise Mimics software. Students also had the opportunity to discuss real clinical needs for patient-specific anatomical models with Dr. Edgars Svolaks, spine surgeon at Vidzemes Hospital.
For a detailed overview of the activities, programme and outcomes, please see the Report and Agenda.