Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology (IMB) is a research and academic unit dedicated to innovative research, technology development, and education aimed at addressing global challenges in agriculture, industry, and environmental sustainability. IMB conducts both fundamental and applied research in microbiology, biotechnology, and related fields. Our scientific efforts span from investigating basic biological principles to applying new discoveries to real-world solutions.

Core research areas: 

• Industrial Biotechnology – Utilization of microorganisms for the production of bioethanol, biopolymers, and other biochemicals. Research focuses on converting industrial waste into valuable products, reducing environmental impact, and promoting a circular economy;
• Food and Agricultural Biotechnology – Enhancing food production through microbiological innovations. We develop production processes for prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotic products, as well as the bioconversion of dairy industry by-products into value-added compounds;
• Plant Biotechnology – Development of new technologies and products using plants, plant-derived biomass, and chemical compounds; 
• Physiology and Metabolism of Microorganisms – Investigation of microbial producers, including bacteria, yeasts, fungi, and microalgae. Research includes the study of stress responses and the improvement of microorganisms through metabolic engineering and adaptive laboratory evolution;
• Computational Modeling in Biotechnology – Application of computer modeling methods in biotechnology, including system dynamics modeling, life cycle assessment (LCA), and metabolic modeling to optimize bioprocesses and enhance sustainability; 
• Cell and Tissue Test Systems – Application of in vitro models to study the immunomodulatory activity of bioactive compounds and to evaluate the biocompatibility and bioactivity of biomaterials.

IMB is actively involved in delivering the bachelor’s study program "Biotechnology and Bioengineering."

The institute consists of nine laboratories or research groups:

• Laboratory of Bioconversion of Renewable Resources,
• Laboratory of Microbial Bioenergetics,
• Circularity and Sustainability Research Group,
• Laboratory of Cell Biology,
• Laboratory of the Nutritional Physiology of Fungi,
• FTIR Spectroscopy Laboratory,
• Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology,
• Cell and Tissue Test Systems Laboratory,
• Microbial Strain Collection of Latvia (MSCL).

The Microbial Strain Collection of Latvia (MSCL) is part of IMB. Its mission is to preserve the genetic resources of Latvian microorganisms and maintain cultures necessary for science and industry, in line with international standards for microbial culture collections and patent deposit procedures. The collection is continuously expanded, characterized, and studied to support targeted research and development.

MSCL holds the status of an International Depositary Authority under the Budapest Treaty for the deposit of microorganisms for patent purposes. It is integrated into several international networks, including European Culture Collections’ Organisation (ECCO), World Federation for Culture Collections (WFCC), World Data Centre for Microorganisms (WDCM), Microbial Resource Research Infrastructure – European Research Infrastructure Consortium (MIRRI-ERIC).