Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA)

1. Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA) Anzelma Ūselienė Innovative Medicines Initiative Info day, Le Meridien,Vilnius 2012-09-14

2. MITA – NEW INNOVATION FUNDING AGENCY Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA)is the main governmental institution, responsible forimplementation of innovation policy in Lithuania. It is a national innovation funding agency. MITA was established in 2010 with the aim to fosterbusiness and science cooperation and to create a favorableenvironment for entrepreneurship and innovation inLithuania. Our MISSION is to provide professional services aiming to foster the development of Lithuanian science, industry and services sectors based on advanced technologies and innovation. The founders of MITA:

3. MITA: GOALS&TASKS MITA has a strategic goal to stimulate applied research, technological development and innovation in Lithuania. Important tasks: • to concentrate expert and financial resources (including the EU structural support); • to support applied research, technological development and innovative projects; • to strengthen the clustering processes and public- private partnership; • to develop the innovation management skills, especially in research commercialization, technology transfer or intellectual property processes.

4. MITA: KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Coordination of national R&D programmes: • High Technology Development Programme for 2011–2013, • Industrial Biotechnology Development Programme for Lithuania for 2011–2013. Coordination of national initiatives to foster the implementation of innovation: • Innovation vouchers, • Industrial property rights, • Clusterization. Coordination of international R&D and innovation programmes: • FP7 • EUREKA • EUROSTARS • CIP (Eco-innovation)

5. MITA: KEY RESPONSIBILITIES International cooperation • Lithuanian and Israel cooperation agreement in industrial R&D field, • Participation in international networking activities (FP7 national contact point’snetwork, EUREKA national coordinators network and etc.), • Membership in TAFTIE (The European Association of leading national innovation agencies).

6. NATIONAL PROGRAMMES High technology development programme for 2011-2013 The aim of the programme is to help to developworldwide perspective high-tech trends with scientificpotential, which makes it possible to create new productscompetitive in a global market. The main objectives are to develop five technology trendsfor research and experimental development activities: • Biotechnology, • Mechatronics, • Laser technology, • Information technology, • Nanotechnology and electronics.

7. NATIONAL PROGRAMMES Industrial Biotechnology Development Programme for Lithuania for 2011–2013 The aim of the programme is to accelerate biotechnology industry development in Lithuania. The major objectivesof the programme: • To create materials and products from renewable rawmaterials using biotechnological methods; • To create bio-plastics and materials to produce it from renewable raw materials using biotechnological methods; • To create new biocatalysts and develop its applicationtechnologies; • To create pharmaceutical and veterinary products.

8. OTHER NATIONAL INITIATIVES Innovation Vouchers - “quick money” In 2010, the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania introduced a new instrument to promote innovations in SMEs – innovation vouchers to encourage co-operation between business and research institutions. Innovation voucher is a small credit that entitles SME’s to buy R&D expertise or knowledge from research and educational institutions. The appeal of the innovation vouchers scheme is related to its simplicity and low administrative burden both for beneficiaries and administrators. MITA is the main administrative institution of this scheme.

9. OTHER NATIONAL INITIATIVES Protection of Industrial Property Rights A strong industrial property rights system is a driving force for innovation, stimulating R&D investment and facilitating the transfer of knowledge from the laboratory to the marketplace. In Lithuania there is a special national tool aimed to give financial support for the protection of industrial property rights that covers the patents of inventions and design at the European and international level. The national support is oriented to the acquirement of a European patent or a patent issued under the Patent Cooperation Treaty and to the registration of a Community design or a design registered under the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement. MITA is responsible for the administration of this tool and provides national financial support for business and research organizations.

10. OTHER NATIONAL INITIATIVES Clusterization MITA is taking an active role in clusterizationprocess. Acting as a facilitator / coach it represents the state’s interests. The main task -to identify new potential clusters, to coordinatetheir activities, to assist young clusters to presenttheir products and services internationally. Starting from 2011 MITA is implementing the project KLASTER.LT on fostering internationalization of partnership between business and science, which is financed by EU structural funds. In the course of implementation of this project meetings with business and science representatives seeking for expert advice and matchmaking opportunities are organized.

11. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES: FP7 The 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) is the European Union’s chief instrument for funding of research in Europe covering almost all scientific disciplines. FP7 is designed to support a wide range of participants: from universities, through public authorities to small enterprises and researchers. MITA together with the Research Council of Lithuania participates in FP7 national contact points network providing information about the programme in Lithuania. MITA is responsible for coordination of FP7 themes: Health; Food,Agriculture and Biotechnology; Information and communication technologies; Nano science, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies; Research for the benefit of SME’s; Regions of Knowledge; Energy; Transport; Security; Space and EURATOM.

12. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES:EUREKA EUREKA is an intergovernmental network, aimed to support market-oriented R&D and innovation projects led by industry, research centers and universities across all technological sectors. It is composed of 41 members, including the European Commission. With its flexible and decentralized network, EUREKA offers to project partners rapid access to skills and expertise across Europe and national public and private funding schemes. MITA participatesinnationalprogrammecoordinatorsnetworkproviding information, consultation and partners search servicesfor Lithuanian participants. The main task of MITA is to ensurenationalfundingforprojects.

13. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES:EUROSTARS EUREKA’s Eurostars Programme is the first European funding and support programme to be specifically dedicated to researchperforming small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Eurostars stimulates them to lead international collaborative research and innovation projects by easing access to support and funding. The projects of Eurostars are co-funded by the European Commission and 33 EUREKA member countries. MITA participatesinnationalprogrammecoordinatorsnetworkproviding information, consultation and partners search servicesfor Lithuanian participants. The main task of MITA is to ensurenationalfundingforprojects.

14. CIP: ECO-INOVATION INITIATIVE • The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) supports innovation activities, provides better access to finance and delivers business support services in the regions. • It covers entrepreneurship, SME policy, industrial competitiveness, • innovation, ICT development and use, environmental • technologies and intelligent energy. The CIP is expected to result • in greater coherence and more synergies between different • European Community support measures. • MITA provides information about Eco-innovation initiative in Lithuania. This initiative bridges the gap between research and the market. It helps good ideas for innovative products, services and processes that protect the environment become fully-fledged commercial prospects, ready for use by business • and industry.

15. MITA: SERVICES FOR CLIENTS MITA provides free services for clients from business, science and public sectors, interested in possibilities to carry out research and innovation projects, develop strong cooperation relations with international partners and get national or EU financial support. EVENTS The special events such as information days, trainings, seminars and etc. are organized for separate target audiences: scientists, entrepreneurs, young researchers, experts, and specialists from different business sectors. Topics related with coordinating programmes are various: • Presentation of calls for proposals, • Rules of participation, • Funding and legal issues, • Proposal/ report writing, • Project evaluation, • Project management, • Presentation of success

16. MITA: SERVICES FOR CLIENTS FINANCIAL SUPPORT • Funding and co-funding of national and international projects; • Reimbursement of travel costs for international brokerage events. CONSULTATIONS • Organization of “One-to-one meeting”, • “Hands-on support” - covering all stages of the project cycle, especially project writing phase. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION • Dissemination of information (website, newsletter, leaflets, brochures, media), • Providing official statistics about Lithuanian participation in research and innovation programmes. PARTNERS SEARCH • Assistance in finding partners for research and innovation projects. REGISTRATION OF EXPERTS • International experts are invited to perform the expertise of Lithuanian projects in different technology sectors.

17. Thank you for your attention! www.mita.lt