BALTNET JULY-AUGUST  2007 BUSINESS TRIP TO LITHUANIA

The purpose of the July-August, 2007 trip to Lithuania by Mr. John Shemo, Vice-President, MetroHartford Alliance, dr.  Dalia Giedrimiene, and dr. Krisciokaitis –Krisst, BALTNET officials, was to meet various scientists in the Lithuanian laser community in Vilnius, the Institute of Energy in Kaunas and physicians and administrators from Academic institutions in Kaunas and Vilnius (Kaunas University of Medicine – School of Dental Medicine and Vilnius University).

The main goal of this business trip to Lithuania was - new partnerships between Lithuania and New England, development and finalization of some academic affiliation projects between institutions in Lithuania, such as Vilnius University and Kaunas University of Medicine and University of Connecticut School of Medicine and School of Dental medicine and M.I.T.

Over a few days starting July 4^th it was possible to meet all of the individuals cited above, as well, as the head of the Lithuanian Economic  Development Agency, Mr. Titas Anuskevicius, and  the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Economy,  Mr. Vytautas Nauduzas.

The meetings occurred in several locations:

First in Vilnius – visit to the ‘EKSPLA’ laser manufacturing facilities where we met several senior people listed below.  We were given an extensive tour of the fabrication and testing facilities some of which are ‘clean rooms’ where we had to dawn protective gear. Please see photos.

The Lithuanian Energy Institute was similarly toured.  Principal people who gave an extensive description about the role of their institution in the Lithuanian Energetic’s System are cited below.

At the University of Vilnius we met other scientists, such as laser physicists in the Laser Institute labs, which are officially registered as an arm of the Quantum Optics  Department in the Department of Physics.

In all we were greeted in a very friendly manner and left believing that collaboration and even partnerships  with New England counterparts are not only possible but very likely and can be very successful.

Several projects were discussed immediately.

Given below is a quick summary of the Lithuanian physics/engineering commercial and academic contacts during July 07 trip to Vilnius and Kaunas in the areas of lasers and energy. 

1. Dr. Gintas Slekys, director, Altechna Co. Ltd.

• Femtosecond laser micro-machining and fabrication for, e.g., semiconductor industry.
• surface structuring, laser chemistry,  photo-polimerization, micro-optics, etc.
• 3-d scanning and positioning techniques for laser fabrication.
• software development  for laser scanning applications.
• applications in scanning microscopy.
• also, provide a variety of diode pumped solid state lasers for industry and  research.
• In debth expertise in nonlinear optics of femtosecond pulses,
• tunable ultra-short laser sources, spatial and temporal control over ultra short pulses in collaboration with other companies in Lithuania  and physicists at the university of Vilnius.
• fiber lasers.
• Hydrogen-fuel cells.

2.  Dr. Valerijus Smilgevicius, Department of Quantum Electronics and Laser Research center. World famous laser theorist and experimentalist.

3.  Dr. Donatas Podenas, deputy director, Light Conversion, inc.

• produce optical  parametric amplifiers, high power       
• femtosecond laser systems, fully integrated broadly
• tunable femtosecond terbium systems.                           

4.  Dr. Andrejus Michailovas, technical director and Kestutis Jasiunas, chief executive officer, E.K.S.P.L.A., inc.

·         produce a huge variety of laser systems,

·         pulsed lasers and  photonic components.

5. Dr. Darius Milcius, dr. Eugenijus Uzpuras and dr. Jurgis Vilemas, Lithuanian  Energy Institute.

              This institute is a ‘center of excellence’ ranging from:

• heat transfer in nuclear reactors to research and
• development of renewable energy sources.

 Dr. Uzpuras is a famous physicist in nuclear reactor safety.

 Dr. Milcius and dr. Vilemas lead in hydrogen fuel cell development.

                 They also lead a very sophisticated software development company called ‘Soft Artis’ backed by experts in several key physics and engineering areas.        

Meetings at Academic Institutions:

1. Meeting with representatives from Kaunas University of Medicine – School of Dental Medicine). Dr. Surna – Academic Dean, Dr. Sakalauskiene, Dr. J. Narmontaite, Dr. Akramas, Dr. D. Akramiene and others.

Discussions regarding the form of the Affiliation agreement and possible collaboration projects were raised.

It was agreed to use a template presented by University of Connecticut School of Medicine for collaborative agreement.

2. Meeting with Director General of Academic Hospital of Vilnius University in Santariskes Dr. A. Laucevicius.

Meeting with representatives from Cardiology Institute in Kaunas.

It was agreed to develop a collaborative project in the areas of education, professional exchange and research between the two main Institutions in Lithuania – Vilnius University and Kaunas University of Medicine on one side and University of Connecticut School of Medicine (on the other side).

3. Meeting with representatives from Kaunas University of Medicine, School of   

Medicine and representatives from International Student Studies Office. Dr. E. Kevelaitis, Dr. N. Pauziene, Dr. D. Akramiene.

Information regarding existing International Study programs was presented.

Also details regarding housing, tuition, language and other requirements were given.

Discussions regarding new possible collaboration projects with UCONN Medical School were raised. It was agreed to prepare a collaboration agreement and to plan visiting groups of administrators and faculty for initiation of International collaboration between these two institutions.

4. Meeting with Vice-President of Vilnius University Dr. B. Pociute and   representatives from International Student Studies Office.

A very high interest in collaboration with MIT was shown. Information regarding existing multiple International Study programs with Academic Institutions Europe was presented. There is a very highly developed internal system of information and networks regarding international students’ services.  

Also, details regarding housing, tuition, language and other requirements were given. Additional info is always available on their website and on request.