Lithuania to cooperate with innovation leader MIT
Lithuanian government, research institutions and business organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate and implement the MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) programme in Lithuania. This programme will strengthen Lithuania's image and visibility as a centre of innovation and technology, and promote cooperation between Lithuanian science and business with MIT.
"We are strengthening our innovation partnership with the US, and MIT is a world leader with an annual research and development budget more than twice that of Lithuania. The Institute conducts research and develops technologies in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and many others. More than 100 Nobel laureates are associated with the institute and have contributed to world-changing inventions and breakthrough technologies. This partnership will therefore open up many new opportunities," said Aušrinė Armonaitė, Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
Today at the Lithuanian Science Council (LSC), Karolis Žemaitis, Vice- Minister of the Economy and Innovation, LSC and the participating companies and organisations, including Vilnius Academy of Arts, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Lietuvos Geležinkeliai, Kaunas Science and Technology Park and INFOBALT association, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation with MIT. The agreement is expected to be signed in November.
The agreement provides that Lithuania will join the MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) programme. There are opportunities for Lithuania to set up various MISTI sub-programmes with MIT, taking into account the country's priority areas and strengths, such as biotechnology, laser technologies, information and communication technologies, etc. MISTI currently operates in more than 25 countries, including Japan, Germany, France and the UK.
"This agreement provides an opportunity to tap into one of the world's most advanced innovation ecosystems. The launch of the MISTI programme in Lithuania will open up opportunities for the country's scientific and business communities through the MISTI Centre: access to MIT's cutting-edge research and innovation, training practices will promote scientific advancement, and joint projects and talent attraction will stimulate the development of innovative businesses and related job creation, as well as attracting investment from the US. This is a mutually beneficial cooperation that will help consolidate Lithuania's status as a technology leader," said Karolis Žemaitis, Vice-Minister of the Economy and Innovation.
Lithuanian research and study institutions will be able to work with MIT to exchange students, faculty and researchers, conduct joint projects and research, and develop innovations through the Global Seed Funds programme.
The Global Teaching Labs programme will allow MIT students to teach STEAM and entrepreneurship courses in Lithuanian schools, sharing the latest knowledge based on MIT's innovative teaching methods. MIT students could also undertake internships in innovative Lithuanian companies and organisations - an initiative that has been running for a number of years and which MIT is funding for its students in Lithuania.
The planned internship and research programme will provide more opportunities for MIT students to do internships in Lithuania. MIT students will be able to gain hands-on experience in both large companies and growing start-ups with high potential. This programme will allow Lithuanian companies not only to work with emerging talent from the US, but also to develop their own talent using MIT's collaborative tools and projects.