EIT Opens New Community Hub in Lithuania to Strengthen Innovation and Talent Development

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has officially opened a new EIT Community Hub in Vilnius, Lithuania, reinforcing its commitment to supporting innovation, skills development and entrepreneurship across the country.

The launch event, held at the Artis Centrum Hotel in Vilnius, brought together representatives from the EIT Community, academia, business and the public sector. The opening session featured welcome remarks by Inga Skisaker, Member of the EIT Governing Board; Marius Vaščega, Head of the European Commission Representation in Lithuania; Paulius Petrauskas, Vice-Minister of the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania; and Gintaras Vilda, EIT Community Officer Lithuania. A recorded greeting from Member of the European Parliament Paulius Saudargas was also shared with participants. 

A New Hub for Collaboration and Growth

The new EIT Community Hub in Lithuania will play a central role in expanding access to EIT programmes and networks. The Hub aims to increase the visibility and accessibility of the EIT Community, offering Lithuanian innovators direct connections to education and entrepreneurship programmes, mentoring, funding opportunities, market access and Europe-wide innovation networks.

Lithuania’s innovation ecosystem has been growing steadily, and this new hub will help take it further. It strengthens the bridges between science and business, supports collaboration, and gives innovators the tools to create impactful solutions. With the EIT Community Hub in Lithuania, the country’s talent will be better connected, better supported, and better positioned to bring their ideas to Europe and beyond.

Inga Skisaker, EIT Governing Board Member 

Part of a Growing European Network

The Lithuanian Hub joins a growing network of EIT Community Hubs in more than 20 European countries, strengthening the EIT’s on-the-ground presence across Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and the EU Outermost Regions. This expansion supports the EIT’s mission to build a truly pan-European innovation ecosystem that leaves no region behind.

Strengthening Lithuania’s Innovation Ecosystem

Lithuania is a strong example of how targeted European support can help close innovation gaps. Between 2021 and 2024, Lithuanian organisations received €8 million in EIT grants. During this period, the EIT supported the creation or growth of 173 Lithuanian startups, which collectively attracted more than €8 million in investment. In addition, 20 innovations were brought to market by Lithuania-based innovators, while nearly 5 000 participants took part in EIT education and training programmes.

These results demonstrate the scale of Lithuania’s innovation potential when talent is matched with the right opportunities and support structures.

From Local Talent to Global Impact

Among the success stories supported by the EIT is Ligence, a Lithuanian health-tech startup transforming cardiac ultrasound analysis through artificial intelligence. Based in Vilnius, Ligence has secured €6 million in funding, built a team of 24 specialised experts and is now valued at between €11 million and €17 million. The company exemplifies how Lithuanian startups can scale and compete internationally with the backing of the EIT Community.

Beyond startups, Lithuanian institutions also benefit significantly from EIT programmes. For example, to date, 26 Lithuania-based organisations have participated in the EIT Higher Education Initiative, which strengthens universities’ and higher education institutions’ capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship.

As Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem, the EIT brings together over 2 420 partners across more than 70 hubs, has supported over 9 900 ventures and has helped launch more than 2 400 new products and services to market.