Innovation and R&D

Talent and support that makes innovation work

From the world’s most powerful laser through to the extra-resistant glass in over 4.5 billion smartphones, Lithuanian innovation is impacting research and product development globally. Companies are currently assembling international-quality research teams here at highly competitive costs, and there is strong and committed governmental support for R&D. So it’s not surprising that Lithuania has jumped 8 places in the European Innovation Scoreboard and now ranks ahead of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain.

Nurturing talent

Lithuania has been planting seeds which are now bearing fruit, thanks to its longstanding focus on developing talent. Its population has EU-leading higher education levels. And, as a small country with strong business-academy links, international investors are playing a key role in shaping courses in order to nurture exactly the talent they need. And going forward, the government is committed to further growing STEM education. It’s thanks to this focus on talent that Lithuania’s scientific research institutions rank 2nd in the CEE region.

1st in CEE

for university-business collaboration in R&D

Ranked 8th globally by Bloomberg for 'tertiary efficiency'

which includes enrolment in higher education and the number of graduates in key innovation sectors.

Over ¼ of students in Lithuania

enrolled in innovation related studies – Science, Mathematics, Computing and Engineering-related fields.

Lithuania houses some of the best global engineering talent and we look forward to further growing our team in Europe’s secret tech powerhouse.

AG Gangadhar, Senior Engineering Director at Uber

The university system of Lithuania is world class, developing talented and innovative technical professionals that can easily compete in the global biotechnology field.

Alan Malus, Executive VP at Thermo Fisher Scientific

A dynamic, responsive business environment

Small and tight-knit, Lithuania’s innovation ecosystem is a real community where solutions are quick and networks are instant. And when it comes to assembling a tailoured team of researchers – like the one at Thermo Fisher Scientific’s World Excellence Center for Molecular Biology – your investment simply goes further.

Where future comes first

Lithuania combines large-scale commitment to innovation with small-scale, sector-specific tailoring. This enables it to support dynamic businesses with both generous support and an ability to adapt to niche needs. R&D expenses are fully deductible 3 times, while corporate tax can be reduced by up to 50%. And because nurturing talent is a top priority, 50% of employee training costs can be reimbursed.

Investing in innovation related infrastructure

Support for R&D and the tech sectors is a national priority. So much so that between 2006-2013 Lithuania spent 411 million EUR to develop its R&D infrastructure and science valleys. Another 679 million EUR will be put into further enhancement of R&D capacity over the period 2014-2020. (Source: National Audit Office of the Republic of Lithuania, 2017)

Research and development cost incentives

Companies can claim back 25% of R&D infrastructure costs and 50% of R&D activity costs.

Source: Ministry of Education and Science

You can recruit 3 researchers in Lithuania for every 1 in Finland, or 4 for every 1 in Germany.

Source: FDI benchmark 2017

Lithuania is a genuinely business-friendly environment. The people are cooperative, communicative and always willing to help. It all makes the process of setting up so much easier.

Boaz Inbal, Manager of External Dev. Centres, Wix.com