Nanoforum - Nanotech Regulatory Document Archive

9. Lithuania
9.1 General information
Lithuania is a Baltic state, with 3.5 million inhabitants. Gross expenditure on R&D was
0.6% of GDP in 2000. The Department of Science and Higher Education of the Ministry
of Education and Science and the Science Council of Lithuania are responsible for
science policy. The priorities in R&D funding are at the time being discussed. These
may include biotechnology, materials science, nanotechnology and information
technologies. (http://193.219.137.48/english /R&D/leg.htm)
Figure 15: Map of Lithuania
The government aims to reform the system of R&D, to improve the links between
research and industry. Measures may include competitive funding of research through
the State Research and Higher Education Fund, upgrading research infrastructure, and
the installation of science parks. The Lithuanian National Scientific Priorities Program
launched by the NSF in 2003 offers funding possibilities.
According to minister Monkevicius, of Education and Science, Nanotechnology and new
materials are one of the five key areas of research for Lithuania. The other four are
bioinformatics and biotechnology for health care and food, information and
communication technologies, new energy and social-political sciences. (Monkevicius)
In the capital city Vilnius, the local government is investing in five high technology
projects, including ”Sunrise Valley". This includes IT, Laser technology, semiconductor
optical technology, nanotechnology and environmental technology. (Vilnius Municipal
Government 2002) http://www.vilnius.lt/new/en/zekonomika.php?open=109&root=105&
sub_cat=152
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