As of today, Lithuania is an associate member at the largest research organization in the world and is part of the community of the most scientifically advanced countries that contribute to the key objective of CERN – to unite scientists of the world for a common goal. Lithuania is the first among the Baltic states to achieve the membership of CERN.
The President welcomed this event of exceptional importance to Lithuania and said that signing the agreement with CERN was the recognition of Lithuanian scientists’ talent and potential as well as an acknowledgment of our joint efforts in promoting science and innovations. This is yet another proof of how far Lithuania advanced during the twenty-seven years of independence.
According to the President, Lithuania is proud of this honorable membership and fully understands all responsibility. The cooperation with CERN provides a significant stimulus to the country’s growth and confidence that opens up a wide horizon to our science, business and, most importantly, youth.
Dalia Grybauskaitė expressed gratitude to all the people who were dedicated for this important agreement to become a reality and wished for this agreement to produce the finest quality of fruits in the fields of science, technologies, innovative business and innovation for us to take pleasure and pride in them.
Lithuania embarked on a path leading to this important day thirteen years ago when an agreement was signed for the participation of Lithuanian institutions in CERN high-energy physics experiments but Lithuanian physicists entered CERN a quarter of a century ago, leading the way for other Lithuanian scientists, universities and laser manufacturers.
Presently, Lithuanian physicists, engineers and IT specialists work together with the most talented scientists of the planet at the European Organization for Nuclear Research. Each year, teachers, lecturers and students from Lithuania do internship there.
From now on, Lithuanians will attend CERN Council meetings and our companies will be eligible for CERN tenders.
One of the future objectives of Lithuania is to establish a business incubation center of CERN to attract business people from Europe and entire world. Lithuania intends to complete it in five years and it would be the seventh business incubation center of CERN in the world.
Membership in CERN is directly linked to membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which places special focus on innovation.
As an associate member at CERN, Lithuania intends to consistently focus on innovation. In the European Innovation Scoreboard 2017, published by the European Commission last week, Lithuania’s rating went up from the 24th in 2016 to the 16th out of 28 EU member states.
