Strong export figures and ambition attract foreign investors to Lithuania’s life sciences sector

Life Sciences Baltics 2025, the largest life sciences forum in the Baltic region, will return to Vilnius on September 17-18 at the LITEXPO Exhibition and Congress Centre. Organized for the seventh time by the Innovation Agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, the forum is expected to attract over 800 life sciences professionals from around the world. This unique event combines a conference, exhibition, business meetings, and startup presentations in one venue. This year, the event is held under the patronage of Gitanas Nausėda, the President of the Republic of Lithuania.

Global audience

“Investing in scientific research, experimental development, and innovation is consistently transforming Lithuania’s economy, steering it towards high-value-added and knowledge-driven growth. This transformation demands an interdisciplinary approach. A prime example of this progress is the life sciences industry, which integrates biology, chemistry, IT solutions, and other fields, fostering a rich environment for innovative ideas. Lithuanian biotechnology scientists and entrepreneurs are gaining recognition globally. Their success stories inspire bold ambitions to establish Lithuania as a leader in high value-added, innovation-driven industries in Europe,” said Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Republic of Lithuania.

Lithuania’s life sciences sector is one of the fastest-growing in Europe. Currently, there are more than 300 life sciences companies developing R&D and innovation solutions, with over 120 being start-ups. As much as 87% of life science products developed in Lithuania are exported to key global markets, including the US (20%), the Netherlands (16%), and Germany (10%).

“The life sciences sector is a priority area for the Lithuanian economy. Therefore, the Life Sciences Baltics event is strategically important as it enhances the visibility of Lithuania’s life sciences sector in the international market. This event helps attract foreign partners and investors, while also creating new opportunities for both established companies and start-ups in the industry,” says Minister of Economy and Innovation Lukas Savickas.

Martynas Survilas, Head of the Innovation Agency’s Breakthrough Department, points out that Lithuania has distinct advantages in the life sciences.

“In recent years, Lithuania’s biotechnology industry has gained substantial international investment. For instance, Flo Health secured $200 million, while Pentasweet attracted €44 million. These examples highlight the country’s potential and the global confidence in our professionals and innovation infrastructure,” he said.

This year’s Forum will be attended by world renowned experts, including Steve Horvath from Altos Labs (USA), Marissa Fayer, CEO of DeepLook Medical (USA), Claire Skentelbery, Director of EuropaBio (Belgium), The Estonian national life sciences stand and Vladas Algirdas Bumelis, a renowned Lithuanian biotechnology scientist and entrepreneur, founder of Northway Biotech and Bio City, and Caszyme, a Lithuanian company already known in the market for developing “gene scissors” technology.

Personalised medicine is gaining momentum

The growth of the life sciences industry is being propelled by advancements in personalised medicine, which is considered one of the most promising future directions in healthcare. It is estimated that one in four students in Lithuania chooses to study life sciences. Personalised medicine leverages genetic data analysis and artificial intelligence solutions, enabling more accurate disease diagnosis, the implementation of preventive measures, and a significant reduction in healthcare costs.

“The growth of personalised medicine in Lithuania marks a significant milestone in healthcare and sends a strong message to the international market. It serves as further evidence of our scientists’ and businesses’ abilities to develop high-value services and products. We have a clear goal: not only to catch up with global leaders but also to surpass them. Recent forecasts indicate that the personalised medicine market is expected to reach $1.1 trillion by 2032, highlighting the enormous potential in this field,” emphasises M. Survilas.

Lithuanian companies are also expanding rapidly in international markets, with significant deals and investments in the last year alone. Atrandi Biosciences attracted $25 million, and start-ups Sentante and BioMatter received investments worth $6.5 million each. These investments not only reflect the growing global competitiveness of Lithuanian companies but also the growing international interest in the Baltic region as a reliable partner for developing innovative products and solutions.

Life Sciences Baltics has already become a platform for critical international meetings and partnerships. The event is unique in that each participant can create a personal programme, choosing between conference presentations, exhibition and business meetings.

“The motto of this year’s event is personalised for each participant. We want every guest to be able to use their time as efficiently as possible, choosing the most important and relevant part of the programme, so the format of the event is dynamic and the content is varied,” adds M. Survilas.