Professor Juozas Augutis Appointed Acting Chair of the Research Council of Lithuania
On May 7, 2026, the Seimas appointed Professor Juozas Augutis as Acting Chair of the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL). He will assume his duties as Acting Chair on May 11.
Professor J. Augutis is a mathematician, habilitated doctor of technological sciences, full member of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, and expert in energy security. With more than three decades of experience in academia and research, he has accumulated substantial expertise in higher education management. At Vytautas Magnus University, he served as Vice-Rector for Research and was later elected Rector of the university.
His scientific and expert activities focus on energy security, critical infrastructure assessment, risk analysis, and system reliability. His professional career has been closely linked to the advancement of science, the quality of higher education, and the strengthening of Lithuania’s research system.
“The Research Council of Lithuania bears a special responsibility in strengthening the quality, internationalisation, and societal value of Lithuanian research. I undertake these duties with respect for the institution and the research community, fully aware of the responsibility to ensure stable, transparent, and consistent work of the Council, to continue the initiatives already underway, and to focus on what is most important for Lithuanian science today,” says Professor Juozas Augutis, newly appointed Acting Chair of the Research Council of Lithuania.
The Research Council of Lithuania will continue to consistently carry out its functions in the implementation of science policy, expert evaluation, research funding, and the strengthening of the national research system. The key priorities of the Council’s activities will remain the quality of decision-making, continuity of operations, and trust-based cooperation with the research community.
Professor J. Augutis will serve as Acting Chair of the Research Council of Lithuania until a new Chair is elected. The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport has currently announced an open selection process for the position.