Vilnius University (VU) has risen in the latest subject ranking of the world’s universities QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022 and is currently among the 450 best universities in the world in three fields of study (last year, the university was among 500 best universities). Based on the number of collected points, physical sciences remain the best-rated field of science and studies at the university, while linguistics is the highest-rated field of science and studies at Vilnius University. This year’s ranking also assessed three new fields of science and studies at VU, two rose to a higher position.

“There are two types of people: peach and coconut. Peach people are soft, very friendly, and talkative outside but very reserved inside. Coconut people have a shell that is hard to crack, but once you crack that shell, they are very warm and nice. I grew up in Turkish culture, in which people are mostly peach type. Lithuanians, on the other hand, are coconut,” says Eylul Guleryuz, studying Informatics at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU).

The Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA) invites startup teams and those with innovative ideas to register for the “TechHub” pre-accelerator. During the 12-week program, selected startups will participate in a three-month training course, develop their ideas and present them to investors. The sixth cohort of the program will begin in May and it is expected to be the last one so far.

Today most business executives would agree on the importance of sustainability in the economic, environmental, and social spheres. There are a lot of public discussions and declarations about the importance of working in a way that our present needs would not compromise the needs of future generations. However, there is a gap between discussions and real implementation. Therefore, the researchers of the Kaunas University of Technology raised a question – can Industry 4.0 processes enable sustainable business innovations?

On the occasion of the 443rd birthday of Vilnius University (VU), the Great Courtyard hosts an exhibition of illustrations from the popular science magazine SPECTRUM – "Science Reborn in Art". It features artworks by 16 young Lithuanian artists, aesthetically expressing the beauty of scientific discoveries and bringing together scientists, artists, and the general public.

Ever considered learning a new language? Now is a perfect time!

Soon, people working sedentary jobs will be able to take advantage of the innovation created by Lithuanians and prevent the troublesome back pain – a joint team of Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania researchers and JSC Abili created a prototype of an office chair that activates deep muscles and improves trunk stabilisation. The project won second place in the Wanted: Life Sciences Innovator competition organised by the Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA) in 2021.

Allergenic pollen is in the air from early spring onwards, even before the snow melts and the plants start to bloom. The first pollen reaches Lithuania in air masses from central Europe, and soon emerges from local hazel and alder trees. For many allergy sufferers, spring is both a joyful and an anxious time. Yet scientists at Vilnius University (VU) have found a solution – from now on, Vilnius residents will be able to use an app that helps prevent pollen allergies.

The world’s most widely used lithium-ion batteries can be found in almost every electronic device, from phones to cars. Modern batteries are designed to last as long as possible, but not every user knows how to extend their cycle life. Hyeong Jin Kim, a professor at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) who came to KTU, said it was important to charge electronic devices before the energy level drops to near 0%.

A group of researchers from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) and the Lithuanian Energy Institute proposed a method for wind turbine blades’ recycling. Using pyrolysis, they broke the composite materials into their constituent parts, i.e. – phenol and fibre. According to scientists, the extracted materials can be reused, and the process is virtually waste-free.