2010 09 17

IBM and Lithuania signed Protocol to set up a large research centre in Lithuania

The Lithuanian Government and the multinational computer, IT and technology corporation IBM have signed an agreement of setting up a joint research centre in Lithuania. This is the largest IT project in the history of Lithuania.

The future centre will conduct research in the strategic IBM areas - nanotechnology, life sciences, healthcare innovation, and intellectual property for innovative management. Researchers will study advanced nanotechnologies, including an integrated silicon photonics, new photovoltaic and photonic materials. Lithuanian university researchers working in the field of innovations will cooperate in the centre.

Joint research centre with a global high-tech giant undoubtedly marks a huge achievement for Lithuania. This means that out of a country applying innovations Lithuania is turning into a country creating innovations for the entire world.

IBM is among the companies holding the largest number of patents in the world: it ranked fourth in 2009 on the Top Ten list of 2009 patent recipients in the US, with the number of patents several times exceeding its closest high-tech rivals. In 2009 alone, IBM inventors received 4,914 patents for a range of potentially world-changing inventions, such as sending alarms to hearing impaired individuals during fire.