21-10-2022

Leaders of European manufacture innovations: Lithuania is becoming a manufacturing centre in Europe

The Minister of Education, Science and Sport Jurgita Šiugždinienė has met with EIT Manufacturing CEO Klaus Beetz to discuss partnership in enhancing the entrepreneurial skills at higher education and science institutions of Lithuania and innovative business engagement with education and science.

“Development of science and business cooperation is an important task, which is one of the goals of the National Progress Plan. We seek to promote entrepreneurship at our higher education and science institutions and help establish science-based innovative businesses. We believe that EIT Manufacturing, which brings together the areas of innovation, education and business, could be a strong partner in achieving our goals,“ said Minister J. Šiugždinienė after the meeting in the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport.

During the meeting, it was pointed out that a partnership in areas of career guidance and growth of talents are very important. The ways how to adapt the masters’ and doctors’ degree study programs offered by EIT Manufacturing in Lithuania were also discussed. It is believed that the programs could enhance mobility of studies and attract more foreign students to Lithuania.

The representatives of The Engineering and Technology Industries Association of Lithuania (LINPRA) have also attended the meeting and emphasised the importance of children’s involvement in STEAM education to encourage more of them to choose IT, engineering, and technology study programmes in the future. Minister J. Šiugždinienė explained that STEAM education is one of the main parts of the current “Millennium Schools Program” and business’ assistance in the strengthening of STEAM education is highly welcomed.

“In the two and a half years we invested around 1.5M euros into various projects in Lithuania. I think we are on the right way here – I was very impressed by the development of manufacturing in Lithuania. It is really becoming a manufacturing hub in Europe,” said K. Beetz.

It was the second meeting of EIT Manufacturing and the Ministry’s management team. In 2021, during a visit to Paris, Vice-Minister Agnė Kudarauskienė and Vice-Minister Gintautas Jakštas met the representatives of EIT Manufacturing in order to discuss further enhancement of Lithuania’s innovation capacity and development of a mutual partnership.

EIT Manufacturing was established in 2019 with a vision that global manufacturing will continue to be led by Europe. It contributes to making Europe and its manufacturing sector more competitive and sustainable.

EIT Manufacturing is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.

EIT fosters implementation of innovations in all countries of European Union. EIT provides aid for business companies, education, and science institutions to cooperate and create a supporting environment for innovation and entrepreneurship.