EBRAINS Lithuania Centre on the Horizon: New Opportunities for the Development of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
On 14 May 2025, the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), and the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno Klinikos (LSMU KK) signed a Joint Activity Agreement aimed at establishing the national EBRAINS centre, EBRAINS Lithuania, and joining the international EBRAINS network.
EBRAINS (European Brain ReseArch InfrastructureS, ebrains.eu) is a European research infrastructure for neuroscience, dedicated to cutting-edge international research in fundamental neuroscience, medicine, and artificial intelligence. It also facilitates the clinical application of innovative research findings and the development of interdisciplinary education in neuroscience.
The Joint Activity Agreement will help to strengthen collaborative research between Lithuanian institutions and EBRAINS organisations and researchers, particularly in brain health, advanced brain-related technologies, and artificial intelligence.
LSMU, KTU and VMU conduct research in fundamental and clinical neuroscience, artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, and the social sciences. These universities closely cooperate with LSMU KK, which has extensive expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological, psychiatric, and neuro-oncological diseases. The creation of the national EBRAINS Lithuania centre will foster interdisciplinary cooperation across theoretical neuroscience (mathematics, physics, informatics), fundamental neuroscience (genetics, neurobiology, neurophysiology, biochemistry, biophysics, neuroanatomy), clinical neuroscience (neurology, neurosurgery, neuropsychology), and the social sciences (philosophy, ethics). It will also lay the groundwork for the development of artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering solutions, and innovative technologies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of brain disorders.
“It is indeed very pleasing to see the continued development of long-standing collaboration between the universities of Kaunas – KTU, VDU, LSMU – and the university hospital. We hope that this Joint Activity Agreement will open new opportunities for the development of neuroscience and neurotechnology in Lithuania,” – said Professor Vaiva Lesauskaitė, LSMU Vice-Rector for Research.
According to Professor Aušra Saudargienė of LSMU, researchers at the university have been successfully collaborating with EBRAINS partners since 2021, publishing research results and organising joint scientific conferences. One particularly successful and extensive research initiative is being carried out with Professor Viktor Jirsa, Chief Science Officer of EBRAINS (Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France), in the development of personalised digital brain models, which are applied in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases.
“Lithuania is the first among the Baltic and Eastern European countries to join EBRAINS, placing us alongside countries such as Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Spain in this European neuroscience research infrastructure. This gives our country a voice in shaping EBRAINS policy and opens broad opportunities for collaboration, scientific project development, and educational activities,” – said Professor Saudargienė.
