Lithuania – rapid change management

Professor Valentinas Snitka at the Research Centre for Microsystems and Nanotechnology (RSMN) at Kaunas University of Technology in Lithuania

By MOON-HEE ANDERSSON
Lithuania was the first Baltic state to declare independence, this happened in March 11th in 1990 after being annexed by the USSR in 1940. The last Russian troops withdrew two years later and Lithuania joins the EU-family in May this year. Since independence was gained almost 80% of companies have been privatized and trade has started to orientate towards the western economies.
NanonNordic.com talked to Professor Valentinas Snitka at the Research Centre for Microsystems and Nanotechnology (RSMN) at Kaunas University of Technology. Valentinas is involved in most aspects of the nanotech scene in Lithuania. He is the director and principal scientist of the RSMN centre as well as the initiator of the Lithuanian Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Network.

Prioritized area
There is no national nanotechnology initiative in Lithuania. Last year however, nanotechnology was appointed a prioritized research area by the government. Approx. 0,6% of GDP is invested in research but there are no figures available on how much is dedicated to nanoscience and nanotechnology. Last year the Lithuanian government approved new programmes to be funded by the National Science and Education Foundation and the allocation of money (for prioritized RTD areas projects) was substantially increased from previous years to approx. 2.3 million of Euros per year and up to €200 – 250. 000/ per project for a three year period. – Before this programme we had grants, but they were really small. For Lithuanian standards this is really a lot of money, says Valentinas.

The Research Centre for Microsystems and Nanotechnology (RSMN)
RSMN is situated in Kaunas which is about 90 km north-west of the capital Vilnius. The RSMN, established in 1999, is the first and only nanoscience and nanotechnology research centre established at a university in Lithuania. The RSMN is funded partially by the University which pays for salaries and infrastructure. The research conducted at the RSMN is funded by the National Science Foundation. Some specific projects are funded through international collaborations. A five year research plan was just approved and the three main focuses of the research plan are:
1. Underlying nanoscience of molecular structures. Instrumentation and scanning probe microscopy will be developed and these tools will be applied to the study of placement and manipulation of molecular structures.
2. The engineering and processing of nanoscale materials.
3. The dissemination of new knowledge for education.
– This area is very important to increase the general understanding of nanotechnology and nanoscience in the society. For example we work with Lithuanian TV to increase the general awareness and understanding of nanotechnology, says Valentinas.

The Lithuanian Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Network
The Lithuanian Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Networks was basically established through the private initiative of Valentinas in 1999 as a result of collaborations between several institutions.
– The main reason for starting the network was the need to use scanning probe microscopy equipment. So the network was established with the goal to share infrastructure, especially atomic force microscopy and to facilitate participation in international research projects, says Valentinas.
The Network is financed through volunteer work and participating institutions. Among the different projects in the network are bilateral collaborations with the University in Kiel, Germany and the Penn State University, USA.

Low in patents
According to a European Commission report Lithuania isn’t doing too well when it comes to patents and innovations.
– We have only a few European patents and I believe that is due to the lack of money, but that’s not the full story. More importantly is that we have very few connections between academia and industry. We’re trying to change this.