December 3, 2015, is the opening date of the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) Creativity and Innovation Centre "LinkMenų fabrikas". It is the first centre of its kind in Lithuania for developing students‘ creativity. "The arts, engineering, management, studies, science, business – these are the main poles, on which the ‘‘factory‘‘ is being built‘‘– said Adas Meškėnas, the Director of  "LinkMenų fabrikas", during the opening ceremony of the new centre.

 

According to him, they want to express a modern approach to the study process by "LinkMenų fabrikas": "In this centre, we want to provide an opportunity for students to learn by creating, developing and maturing as well as implementing their ideas into practice. Young people have many innovative ideas, but often they simply lack space for maturing them and technical measures or assistance for implementing them. "The "LinkMenų fabrikas" is just the right place to do that".

 

A. Meškėnas told about 1100 sq. m. area with the established forty-five shops, offices, bars, for a team of developers, entrepreneurs, inventors, working in different areas, for nurturing and developing together the interdisciplinary ideas from the very beginning to the end, creating real products and services.

 

VGTU Rector Alfonsas Daniūnas, concluding his greeting speech, welcomed everybody to "LinkMenų fabrikas": "When you drive down the Geležinio vilko street, and see the "LinkMenų fabrikas", please bear in mind, that good ideas are born here. If you have your own idea – please come here and implement it," - the Rector expressed the idea that the "factory" will be open to everybody.

 

Establishing the first creative space of such kind, VGTU co-operated with Edinburgh Napier University. This partnership has provided the opportunity to learn from the real examples and to use the best experience of foreign universities in Lithuania. VGTU and the European Union financed the establishment of "LinkMenų fabrikas" infrastructure by the structural funds, the value of the project being 1 448 100 Eur.