Innovation Agency Lithuania and AstraZeneca BioVentureHub sign memorandum to open new pathways for Lithuanian life-science scale-ups

Innovation Agency Lithuania and AstraZeneca BioVentureHub (BVH) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Life Sciences Baltics 2025 event. This agreement establishes a framework for collaboration aimed at assisting Lithuanian life science companies in engaging with BVH’s open innovation community in Gothenburg. It will also help them connect with world-class expertise, infrastructure, and networks.

Housed at AstraZeneca’s R&D site in Gothenburg, Sweden, BioVentureHub provides an open innovation environment where emerging life-science and health-tech companies work alongside experienced scientists and industry professionals. The Hub’s community and partner programmes foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and faster progress from idea to impact – with alumni and residents including companies such as OnDosis, NordicRWE and Antaros Medical.

Under this collaboration framework, Lithuanian life-science SMEs will be able to explore opportunities to engage with the BVH community – gaining proximity to scientific know-how, exposure to industrial best practice, and access to state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities. The initiative is expected to help high-potential ventures navigate critical steps from laboratory research to pilot-scale development, build international partnerships, and connect more directly to global pharma and biotech value chains. The approach also aligns with Lithuania’s growing AI and data-driven health innovation ecosystem, supporting work on personalized and evidence-based solutions.

“Lithuania’s life-science entrepreneurs are building bold, data-driven innovations. By creating a clear bridge into AstraZeneca BioVentureHub’s community and infrastructure, we’re helping them learn faster, collaborate smarter and scale with confidence,” said Jekaterina Kalinienė, Head of BioTech Lab at Innovation Agency Lithuania. “Signed MoU sets up a route for Lithuanian life-science to access AstraZeneca’s labs, experts and a “dare-to-share” community rather than a promise of funding. This collaboration brings our ecosystems closer together and gives Lithuanian teams a pathway from the lab bench to real-world impact.”

“We are delighted to welcome Innovation Agency Lithuania and its vibrant life-science community into the BioVentureHub network. By connecting Lithuanian scale-ups to our open innovation ecosystem, we aim to accelerate knowledge-sharing and foster new avenues for scientific exploration. This partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when scientific curiosity meets diverse expertise – and we look forward to seeing the outcomes of these connections, from early discovery through to real-world application”, said Ulrika Edvardsson, Managing Director of AstraZeneca BioVentureHub.

Innovation Agency Lithuania will coordinate support for interested Lithuanian companies, including preparation for participation, mentorship and international networking, and will act as a catalyst for joint projects and knowledge exchange between Lithuanian and AstraZeneca innovators. The practical details on company criteria and timelines will be confirmed with AstraZeneca.