CONFERENCE
Kaščejevs points out that ‘This reward serves as an acknowledgement of the global competitiveness and innovative potential of Latvian science. The biggest benefit was the opportunity to participate in the Young Scientist community as part of the World Economic Forum. The people met, the experience gained and an inside view upon the steps innovations take from science to business will help to shed light on possibilities for further development of the Latvian state.’
An honorary doctorate of the UL since 2009, Kaščejevs was presented with the award by Professor Klaus Martin Schwab, Founder and Executive Director of the World Economic Forum. Professor Kaščejevs was nominated for his achievements in quantum nanoelectronics research. Over the last few years, the physicist has been working on a new theory of quantum pumps at the UL. Confirmed experimentally, the theory has become the basis for a new class of quantum devices used by the leading European metrology laboratories. In the future, quantum pumps are expected to perform such precise individual electron counts so as to become the best electric current standard allowing science to switch over to a new definition of ampere, the unit of electric current. Kaščejevs’ research is of immense significance for the future information and communications technology.
‘Vjačeslavs Kaščejevs is one of the most talented young Latvian physicists. His achievements in quantum physics are outstanding. Moreover, he is generous in sharing his knowledge with students as a professor at the UL. Kaščejevs also actively popularizes latest scientific developments during various events and on the mass media,’ says UL Rector, Physicist and Professor Mārcis Auziņš who proposed Kaščejevs for the prestigious award.
The scientists were awarded during the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2013, which gathered 1,600 participants from around the world. Known as Summer Davos, it is the most important business meeting in Asia. Professor Kaščejevs is the only researcher from Central and Eastern Europe to receive the prize.
For more information on all 40 prize-winners click here.
Additional information
In late 2012, within Out of Latvia and into the World campaign, organized by the local magazine Santa, Kaščejevs was also awarded the title Latvian Talent 2012
Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.
 played host to the World Economic Forum where the world’s greatest minds—forty young scientists from 19 countries—were presented with awards. Among them, quantum physicist Vjačeslavs Kaščejevs, an associate professor of the University of Latvia (UL).){kind=link}