Nature Index (NI) of articles published in the worlds' most prestigious scientific journals has been updated recently. Lithuania is ranked 52 among all countries of the world within the NI. In 2013, compared to 2012, the country has moved up significantly and its' scientific production has increased by 41,7 percent, whereas a significant number of countries demonstrate an opposite – declining tendency.

On December 30, last year, compatriots highly meritorious for Lithuania, currently residing overseas and persons, glorifying and positively promoting our country all over the world, received the Global Lithuanian Leaders' Awards at the Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania.

World famous businessman Richard Branson promotes in social media and the web site virgin.com Estonian capital Tallinn as one of the three new destinations where to base a start-up company.

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) tandem - a student and a researcher - created an innovative material - cellulose nanocrystals, derived from the fibre of hemp, grown in Lithuania. They can use the raw material, visually similar to flour, for the production of compositional bioplastics. Food packaging, made from such an environmentally friendly material, would be ecological and would break up quicker.

Last week VU signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) providing for cooperation between Vilnius University and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (Indian Council for Cultural Relations – ICCR ), as well as academic exchanges. The document was signed by the VU Acting Rector professor Jūras Banys and Indian Ambassador Monika Kapil Mohta, headquartered in Warsaw.

There is a tradition at the end of the year to take a short pause in order to review and summarize the achievements of the leaving year. VU is no exception and therefore we would like to share our achievements of the year with our visitors .

The euro which will shortly replace litas will have a positive effect on the IT services market of Lithuania, however, it will hardly bring any significant changes. Antanas Ursulis, general manager of CSC Baltic which provides IT services, says that the euro will not bring any dramatic changes to working conditions or expectations of employees; nevertheless, the new currency will help Lithuania enhance its image of a reliable and attractive country for investors.

The British Broadcasting Corporation plans to create a film adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's literary epic drama "War and Peace" which will be shot in Latvia, Lithuania, and Russia.

Vilnius University and CSC Baltic signed a partnership agreement that will ensure partnership with individual faculties and the university as a whole. The agreement was signed by the interim rector of Vilnius University Professor Juras Banys and the CEO of CSC Baltic Antanas Ursulis.

VMU International Office (IO) has announced the competition for Erasmus+ student or recent graduate traineeship grants in the 2014/2015 academic year. Application submission deadline is 30 January 2015.