As a small country, Lithuania will need to retain its strong position as an economy driven by and supporting innovation. Beyond its successes in IT innovation, Lithuania has a solid foundation for developing cutting edge technologies across industries given its high production of graduates in key sectors such as engineering and science. 

 

To highlight and promote the potential for innovative cooperation between Lithuania and the United States, the American-Lithuanian Business Council (ALBC), and the Baltic American Freedom Foundation (BAFF), and the U.S. Embassy in Vilnius have established the Lithuanian-American Innovation Award. The award will be granted to a Lithuanian individual, organization, university, or firm that has developed a cutting-edge technology or solution in collaboration with a U.S. partner.

 

With this award we seek to recognize and award innovation broadly across business and commerce, academic and scientific research, medicine and health, the environment, energy, and education. We invite a large pool of candidates to apply and make the case for why their innovation deserves recognition. The core requirements are an impact or clear potential impact of the innovation, and the clear demonstration of collaboration with a U.S. individual or entity.

 

Award

The winner will receive 10,000 Euro (gross) and a runner-up 5,000 Euro (gross). The award is recognition of Lithuanian and U.S. ties and innovative thinking. It is not intended as seed money for start-up companies or a support for a specific organizational plan or model.

 

Eligibility

 

To be eligible, applicants must be Lithuanian residents, firms, or organizations registered in Lithuania. Submitted projects must demonstrate a clear Lithuanian-American link according to a combination of at least two of the following factors:

 

• The development and implementation of the innovation has taken place in Lithuania.
• The project is the result of work conducted in the framework of US-Lithuania academic, commercial, professional, or artistic partnership or clear collaborative effort.
• The Lithuanian initiator and responsible person/entity has strong ties with the United States.
• The project has been funded or sponsored by a U.S. source.
• The end-user or beneficiary is an American organization.

 

 

Selection Criteria

 

Innovations will be evaluated per the following criteria, in descending order of importance:

 

Originality

Is the innovation a brand new concept?

Is the variation on an old idea creative?

Is the adaptation unique?

 

Impact

Has the innovation already impacted its given field?

Is there clear potential for the innovation to impact its field?

Can the innovation’s benefits be easily measured?

 

Applicability

Is the innovation applicable to other companies, fields, or countries?

Is the innovation easily and practically delivered to its end users?

Have the results of the innovation have been recognized by peers, critics, or in professional journals; or has it demonstrated success in the market place?

 

Collaboration

Does the innovation successfully demonstrate collaboration and cooperation between Lithuanian and American individuals or entities?

 

Timeliness

The innovation should not be more than five years old.

 

Value

Is the innovation cost effective?

Does the innovation increase efficiency by adding value or reducing costs?

 

Applications

To apply, each candidate must fill out the cover page included at the end of this document and include it with:

 

A summary in English of up to 1000 words describing the innovation, the collaboration, and the impact or potential impact.
Up to six pages of additional documents supporting the application (can include references, recommendations, reviews, photos, more detailed plans, etc.)
A confirmation that all information in the application is true and valid and that the applicant meets all Terms and Conditions.

 

Applicants must be Lithuanian residents, firms, or organizations registered in Lithuania. The applications should come directly from the applicants themselves, rather than as nominations on behalf of another entity.

 

Applications due by 2018 m. January 29, 2018. 

 

More information and a cover page for aplicants HERE