The President: Lithuania is emerging as the region’s leader in life sciences innovation

President Gitanas Nausėda opened Life Sciences Baltics 2025 - the largest life sciences conference in the Baltic region. Every year, this forum strengthens the region's contribution to global healthcare and innovation, while fostering cooperation, investment and the development of scientific expertise.

According to the President, life sciences are one of Lithuania's most remarkable success stories, demonstrating the country's ability to make a global impact and build a wide network of regional and international partnerships.

"Lithuania's life sciences sector also has great economic value. It creates nearly 3 percent of national GDP, and our goal is to double this contribution. To achieve this, we will have to focus more on scale, exports and value-added work in biomanufacturing and personalized medicine," the President said.

In 2018, Lithuania became an associate member and research partner of CERN and continues to invest in nuclear medicine capabilities - including a modern cyclotron at Kaunas Clinics. Since 2019, Lithuania has also been a full member of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and an active partner in European research infrastructures.

"Our new modern facilities - life sciences centers at universities, hospital research units and private-sector laboratories - make new discoveries possible. They enable translational research and contribute to a more effective and efficient patient-centric healthcare," the President emphasized.

The President also highlighted Lithuania's achievements: the country ranks third among OECD members in terms of R&D investment intensity in biotechnology, while 86 percent of pharmaceuticals and healthcare products manufactured in Lithuania are exported to more than 100 countries. Lithuania trains top-level STEM specialists capable of meeting the needs of both business and academia.

"Today, Lithuania offers a full value chain - both for innovators and for investors. This opportunity combines advanced clinical research with biomanufacturing and logistics, supported by a skilled workforce and incentives that reduce red tape. We already see inspiring private-sector engagement. The BioCity development project alone is valued at 7 billion euros," the President said.

Gitanas Nausėda wished conference participants engaging discussions, memorable meetings and new ideas that will drive innovation and growth across the Baltic Sea region and Europe.

The President is the patron of this event.