The new issue of Sapere Aude explores how scientists are shaping the cities

World-class experts from NASA, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Johns Hopkins University, the US innovation ecosystem, and Lithuanian public institutions gathered in Vilnius for the Lithuanian-American Science and Innovation Forum. The event aimed to strengthen transatlantic cooperation, promote technological leadership, and ensure the competitiveness and resilience of innovation. Assoc. Prof. Dr Artūras Medeišis, Dean of the Faculty of Electronics at VILNIUS TECH, also took part in the forum. Opening the event, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys emphasised that Lithuania and the United States share many interests in conducting scientific research and ensuring its practical application. “Lithuania is already renowned for its world-class expertise in photonics and laser technologies, life sciences, cybersecurity, and digital innovation. Cooperation would only increase the added value created by our researchers,” the minister said. US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara C. McDonald echoed his remarks. [caption id="attachment_133886" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Gregory Mann[/caption] One of the keynote speakers, Gregory Mann, a representative of the US space agency NASA in Europe, spoke about America’s ambitious plans to return to the Moon. He also emphasised that Lithuania, with its scientific expertise and technological capabilities, could contribute to future missions not only to the Moon but also to Mars. A discussion on how to turn a scientific idea into a functioning technology and transform an existing technology into a product with a strong presence on international markets brought together Angelos Angelou, founder and CEO of International Accelerator, a US business accelerator for foreign-founded startups; Dr Adler Archer, a researcher at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University; Assoc. Prof. Dr Artūras Medeišis, Dean of the VILNIUS TECH Faculty of Electronics; Dominykas Milašius, Head of Delta Biosciences; and Reda Nausėdaitė, Deputy Director for Innovation and Development at the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC). A. Medeišis emphasised that researchers can achieve significant results when they have a clear plan, ambition, and vision, particularly when supported by government initiatives that facilitate cooperation with institutions such as MIT. “One of the most common challenges in establishing sustainable connections and developing cooperation is the need for funding, particularly when it comes to transatlantic collaboration. Unfortunately, there are few funding instruments available to support international and cross-border cooperation. We have now established a consortium together with MIT and other Lithuanian universities that can provide seed funding to develop collaboration across the Atlantic. This funding helps establish partnerships and launch joint projects,” said the VILNIUS TECH representative. [caption id="attachment_134004" align="alignnone" width="2560"] Artūras Medeišis[/caption] Another distinguished guest at the conference was MIT Professor Markus Buehler, who delivered a presentation entitled Materials Intelligence: AI, Creativity and the Future of Scientific Discovery. “Materials have a certain kind of ‘intelligence’ encoded in them through their structures, hierarchies, and interactions across different scales,” Prof. Buehler explained, illustrating how this idea manifests itself in biological materials, artificial intelligence, scientific discovery, design, and creative work. The forum also featured Prof. Gediminas Urbonas, who has built an impressive career at MIT. The Lithuanian-American Science and Innovation Forum was part of the programme of Lithuania’s International Science Week, * (re)SEARCH 2026*. The event was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania in cooperation with the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC) and the Lithuanian Consortium for Cooperation with MIT.

In mid-October, a unique study programme, Rethinking Energy: Combining Research, Economics, and Technology (RECREATE), got underway, bringing together the expertise of seven Lithuanian universities, challenges proposed by business partners, and international learning content. Over the course of the 15-month programme, students will earn 30 ECTS credits while working in interdisciplinary teams to develop solutions to business challenges presented by Ignitis Group and Lithuanian Railways. The curriculum will be complemented by MITx courses from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The introductory camp, held on 14–16 October, marked the beginning of studies for the first cohort of RECREATE students. During the three-day intensive programme, students prepared for their studies and explored the study module and its practical applications in business. [caption id="attachment_133856" align="alignnone" width="2048"] RECREATE brings together students from 7 universities[/caption] RECREATE is the first interdisciplinary study initiative of its scale in Lithuania, bringing together the expertise of universities, business experience, and international academic content in a single learning process. It gives students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in practice, while business partners can explore new approaches to addressing the challenges they face. Programme Director Giedrė Žlibinienė explains: „We are developing RECREATE as an experiment that can demonstrate how much can be achieved when universities and businesses not only cooperate but also jointly design the learning experience itself. We want students to be active creators of solutions rather than passive recipients of knowledge, capable of combining perspectives from technology, energy, economics, social sciences, and other fields.“ She adds that the launch of RECREATE is an important step towards exploring new models of cooperation between higher education and business in Lithuania. Seven universities, diverse areas of expertise The RECREATE initiative brings together Kaunas University of Technology, VILNIUS TECH, Vilnius University, Vytautas Magnus University, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Klaipėda University, and Mykolas Romeris University. Their academic expertise is integrated into a shared study model that examines energy challenges not only from a technical perspective but also through economic, social, and environmental lenses. The modules also cover entrepreneurial thinking, the development of renewable energy infrastructure projects, smart cities, and the transformation of energy systems. These competencies will enable students to assess not only technological opportunities but also the economic viability of solutions, their environmental impact, consumer behaviour, and infrastructure requirements. „Students will analyse how advanced data processing, monitoring, and control methods can help integrate renewable energy sources more efficiently, optimise network operations, and improve their resilience,“ says Gintvilė Šimkonienė, Vice-Dean for Research and International Relations at Klaipėda University. As one of the module’s co-creators, she notes that the initiative provides a platform for future specialists to acquire the competencies needed to develop smart, sustainable, and reliable energy systems. The curriculum will include four MITx courses. Their content will be integrated into modules taught at Lithuanian universities and linked to practical assignments. Students who meet the course requirements will be eligible to receive MITx certificates. The module also reflects MIT’s long-standing commitment to interdisciplinary education and research. In the 2025 Times Higher Education Interdisciplinary Science Rankings, MIT ranked first among 749 higher education institutions from 92 countries. Interdisciplinary approaches make it possible to examine a single problem through a range of expertise, spanning the physical and social sciences, computer science, engineering, art, and design. This broadens the range of competencies available in both academic and, subsequently, professional settings. Real-world business challenges and solutions RECREATE’s business partners contribute not only by introducing students to their respective fields but also by presenting real-world problems for interdisciplinary teams to solve. The challenges proposed by Ignitis Group and Lithuanian Railways will give students the opportunity to examine real-life scenarios during their studies and evaluate the practical applicability of different solutions. Interdisciplinary teams will work on challenges defined by the business partners, with guidance from lecturers and experts. „Using design thinking methods, students will learn to identify problems, generate ideas, develop prototypes, test them, and continuously improve them,“ says Assoc. Prof. Dr Osvaldas Stripeikis, Head of Vytautas Magnus University’s Minded Entrepreneurship Academy. Five VILNIUS TECH students from the Electrical Power Engineering programme are participating in RECREATE: Emilis Eriksonas, Robertas Stasiūnas, Rokas Šadauskas, Timofej Gaivoronskij, and Dovilė Greičiūtė. [caption id="attachment_133149" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Students from VILNIUS TECH[/caption] „I decided to join the RECREATE programme because I am highly motivated and want to gain as much knowledge and as many qualifications as possible. I was particularly interested in the programme because it brings together seven Lithuanian universities and MIT, a technology university recognised worldwide. It is also very important to me that businesses are involved in the programme,“ says VILNIUS TECH student Robertas Stasiūnas. The project is organised by the Lithuanian consortium’s member institutions: Kaunas University of Technology, VILNIUS TECH, Vilnius University, Vytautas Magnus University, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Klaipėda University, and Mykolas Romeris University, together with Ignitis Group, Novian, and Lithuanian Railways. About the Lithuanian Consortium and Its Cooperation with MIT The RECREATE initiative emerged from the partnership between the Lithuanian consortium and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The consortium brings together 14 Lithuanian research and business institutions seeking to cooperate with MIT. A cooperation agreement signed with the MIT Center for International Studies in January 2025 became one of the foundations of this partnership. MISTI Lithuania is part of MIT’s International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) programme, which aims to strengthen ties between Lithuania and MIT in research, education, technology, and innovation. The cooperation includes opportunities to initiate joint research projects, exchange knowledge, and strengthen the competencies of students and early-career researchers. The Lithuanian consortium is coordinated by Vytautas Magnus University, with its activities supported by the Research Council of Lithuania.