Heads of the EUREKA network for international cooperation in R&D and innovation visited the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport
On 27 February, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport hosted representatives of the EUREKA network for international cooperation in R&D and innovation.
Brit Helle, Director General of the Eureka Network, Rudolf Haggenmüller, President of the Eureka Association, and Jorge Liz and Camilla Del Latte, representatives of the Eureka Secretariat, met with Regina Valutytė, Vice-Minister of Education, Science and Sport, to discuss the significance of the international cooperation for Lithuania and the common ambition of the Baltic States to chair the Eureka Programme in the period from 2028-2029.
The meeting was also attended by Gintaras Valinčius, Chair of the Research Council of Lithuania, and Lina Kisielė, Head of the Research and Business Cooperation Unit at the Research Council of Lithuania.
Lithuania‘s long-standing membership of the Eureka network
During the meeting, Vice-Minister Regina Valutytė emphasised that the Ministry actively encourages Lithuanian researchers to cooperate with business in the development of innovations, and that the opportunities offered by the Eureka network are particularly useful for this purpose. Over the long period of Lithuania‘s participation in the Eureka network, this programme has already become well-known and recognised in the Lithuanian research and innovation ecosystem. Lithuania joined the Eureka network in 1992 and became a full-fledged member in 1999.
According to the Vice-Minister, participation in the Eureka network allows Lithuanian researchers and companies to collaborate with foreign partners, exchange knowledge and practices, and attract investments, thus strengthening Lithuania‘s global competitiveness.
The Eureka network is not only useful for Lithuania as a platform for international cooperation, but also as a learning space. The newly acquired knowledge is reflected in Lithuanian projects such as the international event “Eureka Goes Vilnius“ held on 26 February, the “Baltic Day“ which will take place in Hannover (Germany) this April, and other events that strengthen Lithuania‘s visibility and leadership in the international community.
Baltic countries seek to co-chair EUREKA for the first time
The Baltic countries are taking the initiative to co-chair the EUREKA network from 2028 to 2029. According to Vice-Minister Regina Valutytė, the involvement of all three Baltic countries in the chairmanship would allow for an efficient sharing of the chairmanship-related responsibilities and financial commitments, as well as the possibility to organise in Lithuania one of the three Eureka Summits.
During the meeting, Mr. Haggenmüller, President of the Eureka Association and representative of Germany, which is currently co-chairing the network with Canada, presented the best practices on how both countries share the responsibilities of the chairmanship.
A meeting of representatives of the ministries of all the three Baltic States responsible for participation in the EUREKA network is also scheduled for this year.
Eureka is an international cooperation network, which currently consists of 47 countries. In addition to the EU countries, South Korea and Canada are full members of the EUREKA network.
Eureka members share the common goal of strengthening research-business networking by supporting research institutions and SMEs investing in innovation and the development of new products, services and processes, and seeking to commercialise research results.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport has earmarked EUR 16 million in structural support funds for the implementation of the EUREKA activities for the period 2021-2027. It is expected that this will help implement a total of 80 projects under various EUREKA initiatives.
Last updated: 24-03-2025
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