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2019. 01. 25

Jean-Eric Paquet, European Commission Director-General for Research and Innovation, visited the FTMC

On January 24th, 2019 Mr. Jean-Eric Paquet, the Director-General for Research and Innovation from the European Commission, visited Lithuania for the conference “New Opportunities for Lithuanian Researchers for 2021-2027. HORIZON EUROPE”.
 
The event presented the results of Lithuania's participation in Horizon 2020 and preparations for the new European Union (EU) program "European Horizon" for the period 2021-2027.
 
Prof. Valdemaras Razumas, the  Chairman of the Scientific Council of Lithuania, emphasized that Lithuania has the potential to participate actively in this program for 2021-2027 due to the developed research infrastructure and strong researchers.
 
After the event Jean-Eric Paquet met with science and innovation policy makers, scientists and business representatives, visited Vilnius University Life Sciences Center and the laboratories of the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC).
 
Dr. Renata Butkutė told about the technology of molecular fibers for new generation IR lasers, bismuth applications for solar cells; PhD students Sandra Stanionytė and Martynas Skapas introduced the achievements of the Department of Structural Analysis, prof. Gintaras Valušis presented the scientific activities and projects of terahertz photonics.
 
 Jean-Eric Paquet and Gintaras Valušis. Photo: Domas Jokubauskis
 
Gediminas Račiukaitis, the Chairman of the FTMC Council, FTMC Mindaugas Dagys, the Scientific Secretary, and prof. Gintaras Valušis, the Director of FTMC discussed scientific priorities and programs of the European Commission (EC).
 
Gediminas Račiukaitis, Gintaras Valušis and Jean-Eric Paquet. Photo: Domas Jokubauskis
 
Science achievements, ongoing projects, as well as the technological solutions of the Center‘s infrastructure and architecture made a very good impression upon Jean-Eric Paquet. He urged the Center's scientists to be active in both writing projects and proposing new ideas with a view to improving research programs.
 
The European Horizon Program is the EU's main financial instrument for high-level research and innovation-based innovation, international cooperation, EU competitiveness and the creation of a common European Research Area. It will be implemented in 2021-2027, being the ninth joint EU research and innovation program.
 
The new EU program is a very important source of funding for Lithuanian researchers, as Lithuanian business still pays much less attention to research and experimental development than those in Europe.