'Open R&D Lithuania' is a network of open access R&D centers with the most modern equipment, advanced technologies and scientific potential in Eastern Europe.
According to the national rules, all government funded R&D equipment in the science and business valleys must be available for the public on open basis access. For this reason, universities and research institutes had established open access R&D centres with laboratories, where business and public partners can access the newest R&D resources, including the most advanced technologies and get highest quality services from them. There is a minimum of 40% yearly threshold of income to be from servicing SMEs or civil society (private individuals).
The open R&D network has launched a web platform for cooperation among 14 Lithuanian universities, 13 public research institutes as well as 8 science and technology parks. All these institutions have concentrated their high-level R&D intellectual potential, infrastructure and resources in so called "Open R&D Lithuania" project.
The e-science gateway platform (www.e-sciencegateway.eu) have been launch in order to simplify the access to the information about R&D laboratories and their services. Using a ‘single point of contact’ principle, R&D information system provides advanced electronic services to help Lithuanian and foreign business undertakings, science and study institutions, researchers and stakeholders as well.
Resources needed
Human resources for:
- coordination common databases of open access R&D laboratories and services.
- evaluation of information about on-going open resources and services.
- provision of open access business model and rules
- management of registrations and compliance with servicing agreements.
Evidence of success
In total 25 Open R&D centres now are operating under open access rules. During the 2013-2015 period, there 56 open R&D services provided and generated in total 10,8 mln. Euro of income by all Open R&D centres.
Difficulties encountered
The challenge is:
- to create strong internal management for sufficiently oriented R&D services for business.
- to attract a small companies, startups, or even individuals for small inquires.
- to work effective enough to cover the running maintenance costs of R&D equipment.
Potential for learning or transfer
A well-performing open R&D network depends on these factors:
- local and regional business readiness to invent or innovate,
- size of initial R&D service or project,
- external resources to fund these type of R&D services,
- a mutual understanding of the research matters, such as “trust”, “confidentiality” and “openness”.
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Tags: Open source, Innovation
