Tech-Park in Kaunas and Its Contribution to the IT Industry

Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania, after Vilnius. It is also an important center of economic, academic, and cultural life in Lithuania and the Baltic States. Known as the City of Academics and Science, it has an ecosystem for MedTech, IoT, and Engineering startups. With 40,000 students enrolled across 13 higher education institutions.

Here is located the most important tech park where startups emerge: Tech-Park Kaunas.

Tech-Park Kaunas is a hub for science and tech start-ups. It helps both startups and expanding tech businesses in enhancing international competitiveness. The Park offers advice on business growth, assists with innovation support services, builds a community of innovation, and promotes a culture of innovation within the Kaunas region.

Story of Tech-Park Kaunas

The story of Tech-Park Kaunas began in 1998, when the first Lithuanian business incubator was founded in Kaunas. Over eight years, as Lithuanian business grew and new needs rose, the mission of the incubator expanded. In December 2006, it was reorganized into a science park. 

Later, in January 2015, after a merger of three public establishments (the KTU Regional Science Park, Kaunas Regional Innovation Centre, and Kaunas High and IT Tech Park), it became Kaunas Science and Technology Park (Kaunas STP). In 2022, the organization changed its brand name to Tech-Park Kaunas.

"The startup ecosystem is very dynamic - markets, trends and business models are changing, and we must change too - to stay ahead of the curve and navigate companies through the challenges," says Paulius Nezabitauskas, the head of Tech-Park Kaunas. 

Tech-Park Kaunas in Numbers 

Tech-Park Kaunas has seen significant growth in the past two years, with a total income of 62.1 million in 2022 and 42.2 million in 2021. Despite a slight decrease, taxes paid remained substantial, at 7.9 million in 2022 and 7.8 million in 2021. The park has seen a decrease in the number of companies operating and employees, from 128 in 2021 to 108 in 2022. 

Tech-Park Kaunas' R&D expenditure decreased from 8.2% in 2021 to 7.1% in 2022, but innovation remained strong, with a notable rise in innovative projects from 84 in 2021 to 101 in 2022. The park's employment of skilled scientists also increased, from 183 in 2021 to 207 in 2022.

Tech-Park Kaunas Technology Sectors 

Tech companies within the park have a diverse range of sectors, including Logistics, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Agro Tech, Energy and Sustainable Environment, Creative Tech, New Materials and Industry Processes, Med Tech, Bio Tech, and various others.

Technology Breakthrough

Some of the technology breakthroughs that companies are currently focusing on include Green Tech, Med Tech, Urban Tech, Crea Tech, and Space Tech.

Tech-Park Kaunas Community 

Currently, Tech-Park Kaunas has more than 100 companies operating in IT, engineering, medtech, social innovation, and future energy. Their teams develop innovative solutions that reach the global market.

It provides business incubation services, brings together startups and innovative companies and helps them grow. More than 85% of the companies in the Science and Technology Park are profitable. In total, it has more than 420 incubated companies.

Some startups developed within the Tech-Park Kaunas: 

• Idenfy created an identity verification system, as well as is a platform for fraud protection and compliance.
• Handybot has created a workstation automation system, a robotic platform that improves and simplifies labor processes for manufacturing companies.
• Singleton Labs specializes in the development of IoT systems, as well as data processing and visualization tools. Creates a smart post-box that is being tested at Tech-Park Kaunas.
• NanoAvionics maintains a space engineering facility in Tech Park Kaunas. The company creates nano satellites and cube satellites.
• Softneta creates MedDream, medical software that allows universal access to medical data.

Tech-Park Kaunas Benefits 

Tech-Park Kaunas offers a wide spectrum of business-oriented services.

• Business-friendly infrastructure;
• Business development and financial support advice;
• Workshops and training on business development, marketing, sales, etc.
• Networking;
• Conference and meeting rooms;
• Open 24/7 offices;
• High-speed LITNET internet connection;
• Convenient logistics;
• Support in finding employees and trainees;
• Access to international exhibitions abroad;
• Co-financing of product development, improvement, research;
• Access to the scientific laboratories;
• Exhibit Opportunities at Kaunas STP Technology Demonstration Centre;
• Search for investments in venture capital companies.

Tech-Park Kaunas Business Incubation Program

1. To get started! 

The park conducts a 20-30 minute interview process for companies applying to join, where they pitch their services and experts ask follow-up questions. After the interview, the park determines if it's a good fit for the company and vice versa. The company also gets assigned a personal facilitator who guides them during their incubation program. 

2. Networking / Community Events. 

Every month, the park organizes a range of events for its members. The primary goal of these events is to help companies network and build significant business partnerships. 

3. Test the startup idea of the company.  

It's a one-week startup bootcamp program for park members. Selected specialists assist in the testing of businesses by covering themes such as value creation, business model canvas, communication, sales and marketing, leadership, and pitch deck essentials.

4. Accelerate with Evolut 4.0. 

This is a two-month pre-acceleration program for early-stage companies who are developing new products and want to increase sales, improve marketing, and prepare to pitch investors. 

5. Open Access to R&D. 

Members of Tech-Park Kaunas will have access to a wide range of research labs, R&D services, researchers, scientists, and specialists from KTU, LSMU, VDU, and other top regional universities. And will have the option to attend industry-related R&D events and B2B matching meetings. 

6. Get noticed! 

The park is proud of the companies that operate and produce innovative products within their startup ecosystem, and they are willing to share start-ups success stories with their national and international network.

7. Scale up your business! 

Throughout the year, Tech-Park Kaunas organizes activities with a vast network of national and international collaborators. Park facilitators will connect the company with projects, opportunities, and funding that are relevant to you.

8. Awards! 

Tech-Park Kaunas organizes the annual Startup Awards. Their startups are frequently nominated for awards and recognized as winners.

Tech Park Kaunas Sustainable Development Goals

Tech-Park Kaunas Innovation Community promotes sustainable relationships with each other and the environment while integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG17) into our daily activities.

Promoting Healthy Lives and Well-Being

The Park is involved in sustainable development of the health technology industry. It hosts R&D Meetups for startups and universities’ technology transfer centers, and organizes networking events in corporations such as Innovators Breakfast.

Achieving Gender Equality: Empowering Women and Girls

The Organization promotes gender equality in startup ecosystems. It supports several initiatives such as the Initiative for the Development of Business Activity of Refugee Women, ATHENA - which promotes women's entrepreneurship, and DAS - which promotes women's labor.

Promoting Sustainable Economic Growth

Business development experts promote innovation through advice, training, and involvement in international and national initiatives like Digital Rocket LT, Kompetencijos LT, EuropeAid, eSilver Tour, S4BC, ProDiT, and SUSTRADER. These initiatives aim to strengthen IT, digital marketing, socially responsible business models, knowledge cluster communities, and sustainable entrepreneurship traditions.

Building Resilient Infrastructure

The Park is creating sustainable and use­r-friendly infrastructure by maintaining the e­nvironment and recreation are­as in office buildings. It also promotes circular business and conne­cts innovation ecosystems through spin-offs and attraction networks be­tween regions. 

• Circular spaces - Promoting circular business principles.

• VIADUCT - The goal of the Interreg Europe Initiative is to create spin-off companies by leveraging public research to promote technology transfer and commercialization.

• aTtraction - Connecting developing regions' innovation ecosystems (Wielkopolska, Lithuania, and Andalusia) to innovation hubs.

Creating Inclusive, Safe, Resistant Communities and Human Settings

The Park has joined programs focused on smart city development: Urban Tech - assisting in accelerating health tech, green tech, and smart city ideas. GreenTech 2.0 - Green Technology Cluster Activities, Planet - hands-on learning of artificial intelligence, and Distance Lab - an Interreg BSR initiative to improve their skills in remote activities, particularly distance soft skills (DIS).

Urgent Actions for Climate Change

Tech-Park Kaunas team promotes the sorting of household waste, energy efficiency, sustainable recycling, and the creation of innovative, eco-friendly materials.

Strengthening Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

The Park's entrepreneurship specialists collaborate with universities, state agencies, and international and national organizations that support entrepreneurship. In order to establish a startup ecosystem, they collaborate to create and implement more sustainable ideas and processes.

All in All

In conclusion, Tech-Park Kaunas is a big he­lp for the IT industry both in Kaunas and Lithuania and not only. It is an important place for new scie­nce and tech companies. The­ park's many support systems help start-ups grow. They also make­ the worldwide tech fie­ld stronger. By bringing people toge­ther, offering nee­ded things, and making a good place for tech change­s, Tech-Park Kaunas does a key job of shaping what the­ IT industry will be like later.