A wide variety of programmes that we offer helps our customers to achieve great results and become world class leaders. In collaboration with our partners Lithuanian Innovation Center, Enterprise Lithuania and Lithuanian Business Confederation, we organize business missions and international conferences. We represent Lithuanian companies in various international trade-shows and exhibitions and we‘re proud to host the Lithuanian national stand in many of these events,” comments Arūnas Karlonas. Lithuanian Lasers Succeed in the International Market According to the Lithuanian Laser Association, international laser market comprised $8.3 bn. in 2012, 3% of which were dedicated to science-intended lasers. In the meantime Lithuanian laser producers sell a larger share of their production to the scientific market. We take pride in the fact that Lithuanian lasers amount to 10% of the whole science-intended laser market. “Lasers that are created in Lithuania are exported to more than 50 countries. A common joke has it that the only place without Lithuanian lasers or their components today is Antarctica. The biggest importer of Lithuanian laser production is the USA – almost 20%, Japan imports over 13% and Germany – over 11%,” says Petras Balkevičius, PhD, Executive Director of the Lithuanian Laser Association. Referring to Lithuanian laser production as simply “lasers” would not be accurate, as the production entails different kinds of lasers, optical, electronic, mechanic laser components and their combinations. Over the last five years Lithuanian laser industry has been demonstrating impressive achievements. The sales doubled from 98 mln. Litas in 2008 to 206 mln. Litas in 2012. Similar growth is expected in the future as well. While only 10 enterprises in the laser industry were operating ten years ago, there were 22 in 2012. Since the scientific market is rather small, an entry was made to a 10 times bigger industrial laser market, where in 2012 one fourth of Lithuanian laser production was sold. One of the most standout success stories in the industry is Brolis Semiconductors UAB high technology enterprise, established by three Vizbaras brothers Augustinas, Kristijonas and Dominykas in 2011, specializing in semiconductor
Brothers Augustinas, Kristijonas and Dominykas Vizbaras, founders of the company Brolis Semiconductors
technologies in the sphere of electronics and optoelectronics. The founders also specialize in the creation of long-wave infra-red lasers and technology of molecular fiber epytaxy. At the end of last year, Brolis Semiconductors established the most modern semiconductor laser laboratory in Eastern Europe in notably short period of time. The company attracted venture capital investment from LitCapital and got the support from the European Union’s Structural Funds. The Promising Sector of Biotechnologies The Lithuanian biotechnology industry has been developing since 1990s and is regarded as one of the most sophisticated in Central and Eastern Europe. Biotechnology research has been carried out by various research institutions and companies. Currently over 20 companies are operating in the Lithuanian biotechnology sector, the most renowned ones being Amilina AB, Thermofisher Scientific UAB, Vilnius branch, Mestilla UAB, Sicor Biotech (TEVA) UAB, Biofuture AB. Based on the data provided by Lithuanian Biotechnology Association, the revenues of the Lithuanian biotechnology companies grew approximately 6 times in a five year period between 2006 and 2011, reaching 1.1 bn. Litas, i.e., ~1% of country’s GDP. As further rapid growth is expected, the revenue should be over 2 bn. Litas in 2015 and come close to 2% of the GDP. The number of employees in
S CIENCE E CONOMY C OHESION
2011 amounted to 1300, and the export share in sales comprised 85%. The group of Lithuanian scientists from the company Sicor Biotech (TEVA) has developed the anticancer medication TevaGrastim®, which is 25-35 % less expensive than a similar treatment already on the market, and is just as effective. The medicine had been developed for almost 10 years, until it finally came to the European market on 2009. In 2012 the company registered the invention in the American market as well, making it the first ever Lithuanian medicine to be registered in the USA. The example shows a great potential of Lithuanian scientists, their ability to create and carry out big scale projects. New start-up’s are also being established by young scientists and entrepreneurs in the biotechnology sector. Initiated by Vilnius University and supported by MITA a new start-up company IMD Technologies UAB started to produce biopolyol and epoxide oil, and aims to introduce more eco-innovations based on biocatalysis and biopolymers for various industries. Over the last few years Lithuania has been aiming to demonstrate leadership in the sectors of biotechnology and life sciences. One of the most successful initiatives is the “Life Sciences Baltics 2012” event, which attracted over 800 experts from the Baltic and Scandinavian countries as well as Israel. Also, Lithuania has been participating in such prestigious events of international significance as “Bio International Convention 2013”, held in Chicago.
EUROPEAN UNION
Creating the Future of Lithuania
www.mita.lt | 21