Prime Minister: cooperation between Lithuania and Israel has untapped potential

Today Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius has met with Israeli Professor Dan Shechtman, a Nobel Prize laureate in Chemistry for the discovery of quasicrystals, and has discussed cooperation potential in science, innovation development, and investment.  

“We can see considerable potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of life sciences, pharmacy, and biotechnologies. Lithuania devotes close attention to the field of value-added goods and services, and has a target to become a European life sciences centre in 2020. Therefore, scientific and investment cooperation with the respective leading countries is among our strategic objectives”, said the Head of Government.     

The meeting has also discussed joint international projects that are pursued in the framework of the Horizon 2020 programme within the sub-programmes of space, environment, scientific research infrastructure, nanotechnologies, and training. The Prime Minister has invited the Israeli companies to strengthen cooperation in the laser manufacturing sector, which has an annual growth of 15-20 per cent in Lithuania. Lithuania exports its life sciences production to more than 100 countries, with major export markets being in the US, Israel, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom.       

“We are greatly honoured to be able to hear your fresh insights and experience at the international forum Life Sciences Baltics 2016. Your participation adds an extra impetus to the event”, the Prime Minister thanked the Nobel Prize laureate.      

Professor Shechtman has noted that he has discussed cooperation potential with Vilnius University administration at the event. The Prime Minister has welcomed the joint cooperation initiative between Vilnius University Business School and Technion, Israel Institute of Technology.       

Life Sciences Baltics 2016, held on 14-15 September, attracts experts and science innovation leaders from around the world. The event offers opportunities to talk over cutting-edge medical devices and share experience in technology transfer, discusses the importance of commercialisation, and takes stock of medicine and science development trends.