Minister E. Grikšas will meet with Italian ministers in Rome; he will represent Lithuania at international events on cybersecurity and the life sciences
On October 12–13, Minister of Economy and Innovation Edvinas Grikšas will be on a working visit to Rome, where he will discuss cooperation between Lithuania and Italy in the fields of defense, life sciences, and the space technology industry, as well as new opportunities for Lithuanian businesses. The visit will include meetings with Italy’s Minister of Defense and Minister of Enterprises and “Made in Italy”, as well as representatives of Leonardo – one of the world’s largest manufacturers of high-tech, military, and civilian equipment – and participation in international events on cybersecurity and the life sciences.
“The volume of Italian investment in Lithuania grew by more than 57 percent in 2025 – this is a significant step toward strengthening economic ties and seeking new joint projects. We aim for Lithuanian companies to work more closely with partners in Italy in the high-tech sector. That is why, in Rome, we will discuss specific needs and opportunities with ministers and industry representatives for our businesses to contribute to the implementation of such projects. Our goal is for the connections we establish to turn into joint efforts that will help Lithuanian companies grow and strengthen our security,” says E. Grikšas, Minister of Economy and Innovation.
During a meeting with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and Italian Minister of Business and “Made in Italy” Adolfo Urso, E. Grikšas will discuss joint defense and security industry projects, cooperation in the field of high technology, and opportunities for mutual business missions. Discussions are expected to cover artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space technologies, threat detection sensors, and systems for countering unmanned aerial vehicles. During meetings with the country’s ministers, the priorities of Lithuania’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union will also be presented, and partners will be invited to defense innovation and space sector events to be held in Lithuania in 2027.
The minister will also meet with representatives of Leonardo to discuss opportunities for cooperation in the field of defense. Issues related to defense cooperation will also be discussed during a meeting with Luisa Riccardi, a representative of the DNA – the unit within the Italian Ministry of Defense responsible for defense procurement. The visit’s itinerary also includes a tour of the “Thales Alenia Space Smart Factory,” one of the largest, most advanced, and fully digitized satellite manufacturing facilities in Europe.
On October 13, E. Grikšas will participate in the international cybersecurity event “Cybertech Europe 2026.” There, the minister will speak about European cybersecurity policy and strategic cooperation, as well as the interconnections between economic growth, digital transformation, and cybersecurity.
At the life sciences event “Meet in Italy for Life Sciences 2026,” the minister will speak about strengthening research, innovation, and international competitiveness. A memorandum of cooperation between the Innovation Agency and the Italian life sciences cluster ALISEI is to be signed during the event. The memorandum aims to promote the exchange of information and closer ties between the two countries in the field of life sciences.
Italy is one of Lithuania’s priority markets for exports and cooperation in the field of innovation. From January through July 2026, the trade in goods between the two countries totaled 1.3 billion euros: Lithuanian exports to Italy amounted to approximately 0.5 billion euros, while imports from Italy totaled approximately 0.8 billion euros. In 2025, Lithuania’s exports of services to Italy reached 1 billion euros, an increase of 13.8 percent compared to 2024. The volume of Italian investments in Lithuania increased to 165.2 million euros during the same period.
Last updated: 13-10-2026
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