Expert: Science diplomacy in Lithuania has been neglected but is becoming a strategic priority
As Lithuania strengthens its position on the international stage and faces growing geopolitical challenges, increasing attention is being paid to science diplomacy, which is emerging as an important component of the country’s foreign and security policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently preparing strategic guidelines for science diplomacy. According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Kęstutis Budrys, the aim is to ensure that Lithuania’s science diplomacy ecosystem operates as an efficient and coordinated system with clearly defined institutional responsibilities and strategic priorities. “We view science diplomacy as a strategic instrument of the state that helps to purposefully strengthen our competitiveness, resilience, and Lithuania’s image as a reliable and innovative country,” Minister Budrys stated.
The Lituanistics Programme of the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL) can play an important role in implementing these guidelines. One of the programme’s objectives is the development of Lithuania’s science diplomacy. Prof. Povilas Aleksandravičius, a member of the RCL Committee of Humanities and Social Sciences Experts, notes that this field has so far been insufficiently developed in Lithuania: “We must acknowledge that science diplomacy activities have been neglected to date; however, Lithuania’s geopolitical situation, the need to represent Lithuania’s interests globally—including through scientific means—requires elevating science diplomacy to a priority level.”
Within the Lituanistics Programme, science diplomacy is associated with activities aimed at representing Lithuania’s needs and research achievements internationally, establishing connections with foreign academic, international, and diplomatic institutions, as well as the media. Such activities may include participation in and organisation of international events, research placements, cooperation with foreign institutions, engagement with the media, and collaboration with Lithuanian communities abroad.
Lithuania and the other Baltic states are widely discussed globally—in the media, across various institutions, and within academic communities—yet not always in a competent manner or in a way that is favourable to Lithuania. As Prof. Aleksandravičius notes, “when others speak about us without our participation, errors and misaligned intentions become inevitable.” In his view, science diplomacy should help ensure that Lithuania’s voice is heard in matters related to the country and serve as a counterbalance to propaganda disseminated by states unfriendly to Lithuania.
To date, science diplomacy has largely been characterised by isolated initiatives, without an overarching strategy or system. It is expected that the Lituanistics Programme will become one of the key instruments for strengthening this field.
The Research Council of Lithuania invites researchers planning to submit applications to consider the potential of science diplomacy activities.