Technologies

Encouraging co-operation between science and business of Klaipėda region, global economic challenges and ambitions to develop innovation culture inspired Klaipėda University and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania to establish the Science and Technologys Park in 2002.

After this institution opened its door its goal was set – to rally enthusiasts of a successful development of the seaport town and the Western region, students, graduates who are noted for progressive thinking and have innovative ideas, business people and their companies under a single roof. In this way it was sought to encourage co-operation between science, industry and other branches of economy, and the development of the sector of high technologies.

At the present time Klaipėda Science and Technology Park unites over 40 enterprises, public institutions and subdivisions of international companies, which operate in the innovative environment and the global market. During nine years of its existence the Park established a wide network of co-operation that is scattered over all continents and that is capable of offering unlimited possibilities for co-operation. The Park carries out an intensive project activity encouraging entrepreneurship, it works actively in the sphere of developing sale of technologies and transport. Modern infrastructure, dynamic international activity and the competence that the staff has acquired assure a wide and unique spectrum of services and a combination of activity for each working individual or the person who seeks to act in the innovative environment, to create and implement technologies.

We talk to Roma Stubrienė, Director of Klaipėda Science and Technology Park, about business possibilities.

- What benefit can representatives of the business sector derive from Klaipėda Science and Technology Park?
- Our aim is to create the enviromnet in which business and science work hand in hand in creating services and products. We create conditions for business to make use of the scientific potential of the region, to join the international project activity. During various training sessions, consultations and forums we provide the possibility for business to expand knowledge, the network of partners and increase competences. When providing services of technology transfer we increase the commercial potential of science in the region. Access to innovative technological solutions is assured to business.

- What scientific potential can business make use of in Klaipėda Science and Technology Park?
- At the present time three laboratories operate in the Technology Park – the laboratory of marine ecosystems, the marine chemistry laboratory and the vessel air-pollution laboratory. Also, the Costal Research and Planning Institute, which is one of the largest scientific research institutions in the region. I shall also add that Klaipėda Science and Technology Park has been established in the academic town of Klaipėda University. The Park is expanding the basis of experts from different fields of science. At the present time the institution can offer business people consultaitons in 13 scientific fields, including marine, inforamtion technology, energetics, transport, logistics, environmental protection, mechtronics, social, economic sciences, and others.

The year 2011 is a year of challenges for science and technology parks because the conception of creating and developing integrated science, study and busniness centres – valleys – is being implemented, the Lithuanian Innovation Strategy for the year 2010-2020 was approved. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania approved the marine valley programme, which specifies that by 2013 the state will invest considerable funds in marine research infrastructure in Klaipėda.

The above-mentioned programme specifies that Klaipėda Science and Technology Park will perform the role of a mediator between science and business in the marine science, business and study valley. A much wider and more qualitative base of services being provided will be formed in the valley, therefore we shall have greater possibilities to offer business a larger number of qualitative services, and their broader range. Relations with business will continue to be strengthened so that we could form business needs for the valleys, for a scientific activity, to co-ordinate co-operation between science and business on a much wider scale: not only inside the park but also in the region.

- What benefit does business derive from making use of the scientific potential?
- For example, the Faculty of Marine Technology of Klaipėda University through the mediation of Klaipėda Science and Technology Park signed a co-operation agreement with the private company Geoterma UAB according to which it was decided to establish the study progarmme of geothermal engineering and to train specialists. This discipline will not only be the only one in Lithuania but also in the Baltic States.
The aim is to train highly-qualified professionals in the sphere of geothermal engineering, to develop alternative energy and to make as effective use of geothermal resources of Western Lithuania as possible, which can be adapted not only to producing heat and electricity but also to promote healthiness. Also, Klaipėda Science and Technology Park initiated an agreement of the said company with the Faculty of Health Sciences of Klaipėda University on investigating balneological properties of geothermal water and its adaptation for rehabilitation needs. This is only one of the examples of co-operation between science and business.

When implementing the project “SIEK” (strong innovation ecosystem is the guarantor of the competitive advantage of business) supervised by the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania, industrial enterprises Terekas and Geralda, with the help of scientists of Klaipėda University implemented industry optimising systems, which increased efficiency of enterprises and reduced factory costs considerably.

Klaipėda Science and Technology Park, together with Primigena, one of the companies operating in the Park, initiated a tripartite agreement between the company, the municipality of the seaport town and Klaipėdos autobusų parkas UAB. This provided the possibility for Primigena to carry out testing of its product – additives to biological fuel – in the system of Klaipėda public communication. Scientists of Klaipėda University conducted investigations into efficiency of fuel additives in reducing environmental pollution.

- You mentioned various projects being implemneted by Klaipėda Science and Technology Park: in what way can business make use of them?
- At the present time Klaipėda Science and Technology Park is implementing 13 international projects in the sphere of business support, clusterisation, scientific research and technology transfer. The project activity is especially relevant and efficient in providing support to business. The projects being implemeted by Klaipėda Science and Technology Park are oriented towards business needs and problems. However, the very structure of the projects assures an active co-operation between business and science, as well as business internationalisation. Business organisaitons are engaged as associated structures, which monitor and participate in the implementation of the projects. This combination assures that the research or any other activities that are being implemented in the course of carrying out the projects should reflect business needs.
The project of international co-operation “Oversize Baltic” initiated by Klaipėda Science and Technology Park is also being carried out: nine partners of Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Germany seek to improve the quality of services of carrying non-gabarit cargoes and functional (operational) compatibility of large cargo transfer in the South Baltic region. Seeking to to assure business participation, the educational programme for business representatives is initiated thereby the latter are encouraged to improve business knowlege and co-operation in the sector of carrying non-gabarit cargoes. Also, the information system was created, which assures access of business to the inforamtion that is necessary to organising transportation of non-gabarit cargoes in different countries, in obtaining licences.

Another project being implemented is “Baltic Supply”: interregional small and medium-sized business supply clusters in the corridor of North Easter region. The project is aimed at strengthening competitiveness of small and medium-sized business in the North-Eastern supply markets. In the course of carrying out the project special attention is focusted on three supply clusters of interregional significance: marine, energy and public utilities, as well as food and natural sciences.

By carrying out the project “SIEK” it is sought to strengthen the innovation ecosystem and to increase the competitive advantage of the region in Western Lithuania. In implementing the activities of this project as many as 30 companies of Klaipėda region were given scientists’ consultations in different spheres: organisation of industry, reliability of mechanical systems, environmental protection, alternative energy, commercialisation of technologies, safe navigation and others. These consultations enabled the companies to considerably improve processes of their activities, increased their competitiveness.

In the photo:
Roma Stubrienė
Director of Klaipėda Science and Technology Park