EIMIN Minister E. Grikšas: We have brought 10 institutions together to make faster decisions on airspace protection
At the initiative of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation (EIMIN), a cooperation agreement was signed with 10 national institutions, committing to a common goal: faster and more coordinated solutions to neutralize threats to airspace. At the same time, this agreement marks the start of the second phase of the call for businesses to develop air safety solutions – a pre-commercial procurement for prototype development will be announced in April.
“Solutions to ensure national security must be developed in a systematic and coordinated manner. Therefore, for the first time on this scale, we are pooling the capabilities of government institutions, security services, and the innovation ecosystem toward a common goal—to work with the business sector to create solutions that actually work and address the hybrid security challenges facing the state. By increasing funding for the second phase from the planned 1 million to 3 million euros, we are clearly demonstrating that this is a strategic commitment by the state to act in unity,” says Minister of Economy and Innovation Edvinas Grikšas.
According to E. Grikšas, the decision to increase funding was made following market consultations with the ecosystem. The second phase of the call for proposals will be implemented through a joint effort by the institutions, creating conditions for businesses to fully complete the prototype development phase. In addition, the hybrid threat response model developed will be adapted to address other emerging challenges faced by government agencies and strategic enterprises.
The agreement was signed by four ministries: the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, as well as the Innovation Agency, the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the State Border Guard Service, the Public Security Service, the joint-stock company “Oro navigacija,” and the Vilnius City Municipality.
The Ministry of Economy and Innovation is funding the second phase of the call for proposals with a budget of 3 million euros, and is initiating and coordinating the entire process—bringing together partners, ensuring the implementation of pre-commercial procurement, and creating the conditions for the development of innovative airspace security solutions.
The Ministry of the Interior will serve as a pre-commercial procurement partner; together with its subordinate agencies, it will provide practical and expert information, participate in the development of technical requirements, and test solutions under real operating conditions.
“Modern technologies and innovative solutions are needed to combat the hybrid threat posed by the belarusian regime and the illegal air transport of contraband. Ensuring the security of our airspace requires the involvement of all relevant state institutions, responsible agencies, and the defense industry. I am confident that through our joint efforts, we will do everything possible to prevent such criminal activities and actions against our state,” said Minister of the Interior Vladislavas Kondratovičius.
The Ministry of National Defense will contribute its expertise, assess the suitability of technological solutions for defense needs, and participate in the solution development process.
“This agreement addresses the requirements of modern hybrid threats—the consolidation of expertise from various institutions into a single, functioning system. The Ministry of National Defense and the Lithuanian Armed Forces will continue to contribute not only by evaluating technological solutions but also by testing them under real-world conditions at training grounds with feedback from the military. Through joint efforts, we are enabling a system that detects, assesses, and allows for a timely response to threats,” says Minister of National Defense Robertas Kaunas.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications, in collaboration with Oro Navigacija, will assist in assessing the impact of decisions on civil aviation and provide expert insights on airspace use and flight safety.
“We are signing an agreement that represents another important step toward ensuring airspace security. Last fall, when hybrid attacks against Lithuania began, we acted quickly and decisively. We reviewed our response protocols and reached out to the European Union and the International Civil Aviation Organization. The most important thing has always been and remains the safety of passengers and civil aviation. By utilizing advanced technologies and innovative solutions, we will be able to ensure safety even better,” says Tomas Daukantas, Chancellor of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
The Vilnius City Municipality will contribute to the development and testing of solutions and will strengthen engagement within the innovation ecosystem.
“Safety is essential for a city to function and grow. Vilnius aims to be not only a city that responds to threats, but also a place where solutions to manage them are developed and tested. Only in this way can we ensure that we are prepared not only for today’s challenges, but also for those of tomorrow,” says Adomas Bužinskas, Director of the Vilnius City Municipality Administration.
To recap, in the first phase of the call for proposals to develop aviation security solutions, the three most innovative ideas submitted by businesses were selected, and their authors were awarded 300,000 euros. The second phase involves a pre-commercial procurement process for the development of prototypes.
The objective is to develop an innovative technological solution that enables the real-time and secure detection, identification, and tracking of weather balloons carrying cargo in the airspace, and, if necessary, to facilitate their neutralization or controlled interception in accordance with strict procedures.