VILNIUS TECH Creativity and Innovation Centre “LinkMenų fabrikas” has awarded Creativity Scholarships to three student projects developed in its Media, Audio and Prototype Laboratories. Each winning project received a one-off scholarship of €500 in recognition of its creative approach, technical execution and originality.
In Search of Creativity
Since September, “LinkMenų fabrikas” has invited VILNIUS TECH students who create independently or develop their study-related projects in the Centre’s facilities to register their work and apply for the Creativity Scholarship. The competition was open to all university students who, during the autumn or spring semester, worked in the “LinkMenų fabrikas” laboratories: creating photo or video projects in the Media Laboratory, developing sound projects in the Audio Laboratory, or producing prototypes in the Prototype Laboratory workshops.
The Creativity Scholarships for the Media and Audio Laboratories were established by VILNIUS TECH “LinkMenų fabrikas”, while the Prototype Laboratory scholarship was established by LEMONA electronics, a company specialising in electronic products and solutions.
“We are joining the Creativity Scholarship initiative because we believe in the potential of young creators to develop the technologies and solutions of the future. We see that students often need only a small amount of encouragement for their ideas to become real prototypes, music or visual projects. By contributing to the scholarship, we want to provide exactly that impulse – a space to experiment boldly, make mistakes, discover and create. It is important for us to strengthen our connection with young talents who are already shaping tomorrow’s innovations. By collaborating with VILNIUS TECH “LinkMenų fabrikas”, we are contributing to the growth of a more open, creative and technology-driven community. This is an investment not only in students, but also in the engineering and creative future of Lithuania as a whole,” say representatives of LEMONA electronics.
Creative Student Projects – from a Modular Wall Light to Musical Works
The Prototype Laboratory scholarship established by LEMONA electronics was awarded to student Indrė for the project “LOOP lamp”. It is a modular wall light and key holder inspired by everyday situations: returning home in the dark and having to look for the light switch, or rushing to leave and being unable to find misplaced keys. The project stands out for its combination of functionality, engineering solutions and minimalist design. The modules, produced from PLA plastic using 3D printing, are joined without glue or screws, while integrated LED strips and pogo-pin connectors allow additional modules to light up once only the initial element is connected. This structure enables users to choose the shape of the light, the number of modules and their composition, while keeping assembly and use simple.
In the Audio category, the most creative project was the musical work “Laiškas” by student Valdermaras, created together with vocalist Augustė. The piece emerged from personal experience, silence and the sensitive emotions that often surface on late autumn and winter evenings. It is a song about memories, nostalgia, unspoken words and loss – the kind of loss that leaves a trace not only in one’s thoughts, but also in one’s voice. For the author, “Laiškas” became a kind of letter to a loved one who is no longer here, but whose memory remains present between the lines and the notes. The piece also reflects Klaipėda – the city that shaped both creators – its streets, silence, wind and memories that never fade.
The Media category scholarship was awarded to student Meida for the creation of the music video ‘Bijai’. Aimed at young people and anyone who has experienced complex, emotionally draining relationships, the video explores a friendship that gradually shifts from a close and warm connection into something painful, marked by jealousy, control and tension. At the centre of the visual narrative is a character who initially appears lost, constrained and dependent on another person’s influence, but who becomes increasingly strong, courageous and self-confident as the story develops. The spaces, lighting, colours and objects used in the video are not incidental – they strengthen the emotional atmosphere and help convey the character’s inner journey from confinement and tension towards liberation, determination and inner strength. The aim of the work was not only to provide a visual interpretation of the song, but also to invite viewers to recognise similar experiences and to highlight the importance of freeing oneself from toxic relationships.
According to Greta Markūnaitė, Head of the VILNIUS TECH Creativity Laboratory, the Creativity Scholarship initiative aims to encourage students to experiment more boldly, make use of the opportunities offered by the “LinkMenų fabrikas” laboratories, and transform their ideas into tangible creative, technological or interdisciplinary projects.
“This year’s winning projects have shown that creativity can take many different forms – from engineering prototypes and music to sensitive visual storytelling,” says G. Markūnaitė.
