VMU to Coordinate Upcoming MIT MISTI Programme Consortium in Lithuania

Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) has been selected as the coordinator of the Lithuanian consortium that will participate in the world-leading Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) programme. The decision was made following a vote by the members of the upcoming consortium, including public and private sector organisations, higher education institutions, and business representatives eager to join this prestigious international programme.

Implemented one of the key points of the agreement

The establishment of the consortium was one of the key points of the agreement initiated by the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL) and signed on 9 October. This agreement between the public sector, the business sector, and scientific institutions formally established Lithuania’s ambition to become a full member of the MIT MISTI programme.

The aim of the consortium, of which VMU has become the coordinator, is to ensure the smooth and effective operation of the MIT MISTI Lithuania programme in Lithuania. Following the signing of the agreement with the Boston-based university, VMU will be responsible for organising cooperation with MIT, coordinating projects and initiatives, initiating communications with world-class scientists, managing financial resources, and representing the interests of consortium members. These activities will encompass scientific research, innovation, and technology projects, student and researcher exchange programmes, and other joint initiatives.

“We are pleased to coordinate the Lithuanian consortium in the MIT MISTI Lithuania programme. This is an important step towards strengthening Lithuania’s science and innovation ecosystem and international cooperation. Lithuania is already involved in cooperation with CERN and the European Space Agency, and becoming part of the MIT MISTI programme is a step towards the very core of science, technology, and innovation, opening up new and even greater opportunities for our scientists, students, and business representatives,” said VMU Rector Prof. Juozas Augutis.

According to the Rector, cooperation with such a world-class university, whose graduates have founded over 30,000 active companies generating annual revenues of $4.6 trillion – equivalent to the world’s seventh-largest economy – will contribute to the development of innovative technologies, the promotion of scientific research, and the strengthening of Lithuania’s position in the fields of science and innovation.

“This new role is particularly symbolic for VMU, which was re-established thanks to the efforts of Lithuanians around the world and the contribution of the national community. We hope that this partnership will open up new opportunities for our university and for Lithuania as a whole,” noted Prof. Augutis.

Set to implement projects of interest to Lithuania

By becoming a member of the MIT MISTI programme, Lithuania will gain the opportunity to join the international science and technology community and strengthen its global position. Members of the consortium will commit to collectively raising an annual membership fee of 300,000 US dollars, which will be directly allocated to strengthening Lithuania’s science, innovation, and technology ecosystem, from collaborative research, strategies, research projects, and training, to various initiatives involving businesses, scientists, students, and technology development. The consortium will become a strategic tool for advancing Lithuania’s science and innovation, ensuring the country’s participation in global technology and research processes.

Future plans for the consortium include the development of additional MIT MISTI sub-programmes tailored to Lithuania’s specific needs, such as biotechnology, laser technology, and sustainable energy, among others. VMU, as the consortium coordinator, will strive to ensure the implementation and development of these projects both nationally and internationally.

Lithuania and VMU’s exceptional opportunity to join the MIT MISTI programme was made possible by the artist Gediminas Urbonas, who has been a professor at MIT for 15 years and has facilitated the strengthening of ties between Lithuania and one of the world’s most prestigious universities. Gediminas and Nomeda Urbonas are visiting professors at VMU, and in 2019 they established the “Swamp School” at VMU – an experimental laboratory that represented Lithuania at the Venice Biennale. This summer, two volunteer MIT students visited VMU and contributed to the activities of the VMU Ukraine Centre’s Summer School.