The economy minister presented Lithuania's industrial capacity to CERN director general. Lithuania is actively seeking to become an associate member of CERN as it would open the path to participate in multi-million euro procurement with CERN.
According to Minister Gustas, the goal is to boost Lithuania's economy with the help of development of innovations, tighter science and business cooperation. Lithuania's cooperation with major research organisations like CERN is a gateway that will help Lithuanian inventions, expertise services and manufacturing companies to enter previously inaccessible the most expensive and promising markets in new business and science areas.
The economy minister said that although Lithuanian scientists specialising in the fields of lasers, physics and information technologies have been cooperating with CERN for over 20 years, yet only associate membership enables to participate in public procurement organised by CERN and thus enter new markets.
Rolf-Dieter Heuer, the Director General of CERN, emphasised at the meeting that CERN is interested the most in Lithuania's laser science and technologies, medicine, information technologies and materials engineering.
Currently Lithuania has 10% of the global scientific laser market share and is actively entering industrial laser segment. Some of the most advanced laser models suitable for CERN projects are manufactured only in Lithuania.
It has been estimated that 38% of companies that have contracts with CERN create new products. Cooperation with CERN opens new markets for 17% of companies. For 60% – it helps find new customers. Meanwhile, for 52% of companies sales increase would have been slower without CERN.
