Institute of Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering

Director, Professor Dr. sc. ing. Irīna Boiko

Ķīpsalas iela 6B–406, Rīga

+371 26037158

Historically, when the Riga Polytechnic Institute was reborn in 1958 (separating from the State University of Latvia (now LU) as an independent educational institution) the Faculty of Mechanics (1958–1964) was established, then the Faculty of Apparatus Engineering and Automation (1964–1993).
In 1993, the Department of Machine Engineering was transformed into the Institute of Machine Engineering and Automation which was merged in 2003 with the Institute of Industrial Business to form the Institute of Mechanical Engineering Technology (MTI). From the moment of foundation until 2018 MTI was headed by a corresponding member of the LAS, Dr. habil. sc. ing. Professor Jānis Rudzītis.
In turn in 1994, the Institute of Mechanics (MI) was established, which until 1999 was headed by a LAS academician, Dr. habil. sc. ing. Professor Egons Lavendelis. From 1999 to 2018, the MI was headed by a corresponding member of the LAS, Dr. habil. sc. ing. Professor Jānis Vība.
In 2018, the two institutes were consolidated into the Institute of Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering (MMI).

MMI provides studies at several levels:

• Academic Bachelor;
• Professional Bachelor's degree (with the qualification of an Engineer) (in Latvian);
• Academic / Professional Master;
• Doctoral studies.

within the study programs in English: «Engineering , Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering» and in Latvian «Mechanical and Instrumental Engineering», «Mechatronics», «Industrial Design», «Heat Power and Heat Engineering» and «Production Technology».

Celebrating the 160th anniversary of Riga Technical University (RTU), on July 06 2022, an apple tree was planted at the FMETA building in Kipsala, among other trees!

MMI scientists are involved in the implementation of national and international projects, publish scientific publications in internationally recognized releases, participate and organize scientific events, are the authors of several patented inventions, as well as for know-how. 

MMI cooperates with Latvian and foreign scientific institutions and higher education establishments, as well as with enterprises. There is also close cooperation with the Association of the Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industries of Latvia (MASOC).

MMI conducts intensive research work in the fields of engineering and technology in several areas: applied mechanics, mechanical engineering technology, thermal engineering and production automation. Students of all study levels are actively involved in scientific research work.

MMI participates in the annual RTU International Scientific Conference with reports and Abstract Book:

• RTU 61st International Scientific Conference session «Mechanical Engineering Technology and Heat Engineering» Abstract Book (PDF, 2.1 MB);
• RTU 62nd International Scientific Conference session «Mechanical Engineering Technology and Heat Engineering» Abstract Book (PDF, 3.3 MB);
• RTU 63rd International Scientific Conference session «Mechanical Engineering Technology and Heat Engineering» Abstract Book (PDF, 3.3 MB).

Every year MMI organizes sessions of RTU Student Conference of Applied Science: Industrial Design, Production Technology, Theoretical Mechanics and Strength of Materials. Abstract Collections are published every year.

In 2022 Summer School «Fracture Structures: Material Stress Resistance» was hosted by MMI Laboratory of Experimental Mechanics of Materials and it was attended by students coming from various universities across the world at Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral levels and lecturers from five countries.

The students participated in an array of lectures, workshops, lab sessions and industrial visits. The Scientific Laboratory of Experimental Mechanics of Materials, provided students with hands-on training on composite materials manufacturing, testing, characterization and finite element modeling.

Senate of the Latvian Academy of Sciences awarded study «Sliding Over Ice» by the scientists J. Lungevičs (Metrology Lab), E. Jansons, J. Vība and M. Irbe.

On the other hand, the Vitaut Tamuž's Prize was awarded to Assistant Professor Ivo Vaicis, for the doctoral thesis on «Optimising the Forms of Mechanical Systems Elements by Impressiveness» (scientific advisors Dr. sc. ing. Aleksandrs Januševskis, Dr. sc. ing. Jānis Auziņš). Dr. Vaicis defended the thesis last year.