ATHENA Alliance Meeting: Business-Science Collaboration and Networking

On September 5-6, at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), the ATHENA Alliance members gathered to discuss the possibilities of collaboration between business and science. Significant attention was given to international cooperation. During their visit to Lithuania, guests from ten ATHENA European universities discussed ongoing and future projects for the upcoming academic year and also visited various companies.

At the event, Adas Meškėnas, VILNIUS TECH's Vice-Rector for Strategic Partnership, along with the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Center and the Science and Research Office, presented VILNIUS TECH's results in business-science collaboration. Partners also shared their experiences and achievements in collaboration at their respective universities.

ATHENA and Industry Collaboration 

One of the main highlights of the meeting was the ATHENA Alliance members' panel with the Industry Interface Committee, where the committee's future prospects and expectations were discussed.

ATHENA's Industry Interface Committee serves as an advisory body in the alliance, assisting in making strategic decisions and helping analyze the business and research sectors to identify new or improved ways of collaboration.

At this meeting in Vilnius, three committee representatives were present: Peter Haring Bolivar from the University of Siegen, Justinas Janulevičius from VILNIUS TECH, and Maria Joao Machado from the Polytechnic Institute of Porto.

Alliance and Industry Visits 

The alliance members visited institutions with long-standing collaborations with the industry, including the VILNIUS TECH Construction Engineering Research Center, the laboratories of the Faculties of Mechanics, Electronics, and Transport Engineering (METIF), the VILNIUS TECH Creativity and Innovation Centre "LinkMenų fabrikas," the Antanas Gustaičius Aviation Institute (AGAI), and its subsidiary company "Astrolite."

Participants also had the opportunity to visit "Light Conversion," one of the world's leading manufacturers of femtosecond lasers, where they observed the entire laser production process in real-time. "TELTONIKA EMS," one of the largest electronics and IoT device manufacturers in the Baltic States, showcased various production processes, revealed the company's future plans, and discussed new collaboration opportunities.

This ATHENA Alliance meeting served as an essential platform for in-depth discussions pertaining to collaborative prospects between academia and industry, including the analysis of ongoing and prospective projects undertaken during the upcoming academic year. Alliance’s interaction with industry partners was particularly insightful, illuminating avenues for enhanced cooperation and strategic decision-making. The ATHENA Alliance, guided by its Industry Interface Committee, plays a pivotal role in identifying and improving means of collaboration in business and research sectors at an international level. Thus, ATHENA efforts remain focused on fostering enduring partnerships and contributing to the advancement of the business-science landscape.

Participants in the meeting included partners from the University of Siegen, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University in Lublin, University of Maribor, Polytechnic Institute of Porto and associated partners from the Carinthia University of Applied Science. Other partners from the University of Vigo, the University of Orleans, and Niccolo Cusano University participated remotely.