'Horizon 2020', the new European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, will be presented by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT) at a special event organised in the framework of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU, on Friday, 10 January 2014, at the 'Demokritos' National Centre for Scientific Research.

The United States accreditation organization Joint Commission International has certified the first private medical institution in Lithuania. After the audit by foreign experts, the international certificate was granted to Kardiolita, a private hospital. It is the first such certificate in the Baltic States granted to a healthcare institution.

Siauliu bankas that invited to participate in the the traditional time deposit campaign "Win the Chest of Golden Coins" for the fourth time in turn has found out the winners of the Grand prize and additional prizes. On Christmas Eve the Grand prize of 10 thousand litas was granted to the frugal pensioner residing in Jurbarkas in Seredžius village, informed BC bank's press service.

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) invests in the studies infrastructure. This week, the flight training unit in Kyviskes acquired two new helicopters Cabri G2, the value of which is almost 3 million Litas. The air crafts will be used to prepare qualified helicopter pilots. The integrated master's degree study programme, which will prepare such specialists, will be the first and only in Lithuania, and will be implemented by VGTU Antanas Gustaitis' Aviation Institute (AGAI).

airlinetrends.com, an independent aviation industry and consumer trends research agency, has named BalticMiles Burn The Miles campaign as one of the globally most innovative airline marketing campaigns of 2013.

The Burn The Miles campaign, in cooperation with Endomondo, a globally leading sports community based on free real-time GPS tracking, encourages frequent fliers to stay fit by jogging and burning off as many calories as the number of miles they have flown. It was chosen as one of six most innovative marketing ideas globally by airlinetrends.com, along with campaigns by Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Qantas and Emirates.

Gabi Kool, Chief Executive Officer of Coalition Rewards Ltd, says: "At BalticMiles, we are always looking to create of providing value to our members and we are very excited to be recognized for our efforts. We see this recognition as an encouragement to move forward, and we are sure many pleasant surprises are ahead for our members in 2014."

Mette Lykke, Chief Executive Officer of Endomondo Ltd, added: "Endomondo was founded to help people lead healthier and more active lives, so we are happy to co-operate with a company that shares our values and to welcome BalticMiles members to our 20 million strong world-wide community."

About BalticMiles. Launched in October 2009, BalticMiles is the leading multi-partner loyalty program in North and Eastern Europe and Russia. BalticMiles has numerous ways to collect Points at more than 30 000 places throughout the world – flights, trips, hotel stays, car rentals, restaurants, beauty salons and spa treatments, health care, telecoms, and finance, as well as while shopping for over 400 international brands at BalticMiles' online store.

With more than 20 million users joining since launch in 2008, Endomondo remains a highly rated, free mobile app that turns GPS-enabled smartphones into a personal trainer and social motivator that makes fitness fun and help people become and stay physically active.

www.baltic-course.com

The launch of the first Lithuanian satellites, LituanicaSat-1 and LitSat-1, into space has been delayed to mid January 2014.

At the meeting held on Wednesday, 18 December 2013, the Seimas Committee on Education, Science and Culture was considering the issue of internationalisation of Lithuanian higher education.

On 18 December in Brussels, the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Rolandas Kriščiūnas, the European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger, and the Director-General of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission Dominique Ristori officially inaugurated the Baltic Energy Security Research Platform.

On Friday in the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER I) the Member States endorsed the agreement reached by the Lithuanian EU Council Presidency and the European Parliament on the Proposal for a Regulation on Clinical trials on medicinal products for human use (and repealing Directive 2001/20/EC).

The European Research Council (ERC) today announced the winners of 13 ERC Synergy Grants, who will share total funding of €150 million. The projects will each receive an average funding of €11.5 million, up to a maximum of €15 million, for the coming six years. Each project brings together two to four outstanding researchers, often across a number of disciplines.