Why don't we have decent science in Lithuania?

 Why don't we have decent science in Lithuania? "Low salaries of researchers, concentration of funds and people in large competence centers of the most famous Western universities and unloved bureaucracy by Lithuanian researchers are the main reasons why Lithuania looks sad in European research funding programs," says Liudas Mažylis, MEP, doctor of science and former VMU professor. "It is a pity, but Lithuania has taken the last place among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and on a European scale we are only ahead of Malta," says L. Mažylis about the country's results using the funds of the Horizon 2020 program. 

A lot of good words can be said about European science and the programs that fund it, says L. Mažylis, but the participation of states in them is not quite equal yet. This is also unresolved in the new European Horizon. In addition to the fact that Lithuania itself does not invest enough in research (twice less than the EU average), countries with large centers of excellence will benefit the most from this program. Cross-border science is the goal, but it is not easy to implement. 

MEP Andrius Kubilius, a member of the European People's Group, agrees. The program provides great opportunities for researchers, he says, but so far it is acting as a "brain drain" from Lithuania. "It seems 90 or 95 percent of Horizon's funds go back to the old European countries, because the big centers of excellence are located there. They hire our scientists, who both earn and gain experience, and the benefits for the transformation of our state's economy are very conditional,” - A. Kubilius considers. 

Another major problem of Lithuanian science and the reason for the low use of Horizon 2020 funds is the low salaries of researchers. "In this way, we absorb less money and drag on the tail of Europe," says L. Mažylis. According to him, an attempt is being made to solve the problem: in the last term of the Seimas it is planned to increase the salaries of researchers one and a half times, so if government plans do not change, the situation should improve. Another obstacle for researchers to participate in international research and programs is inertia and reluctance to overcome bureaucratic obstacles. "It is easier for researchers to apply for funding from the Lithuanian Science Council (LMT), and accountability is easier, which is another reason to be passive in relation to European programs," says L. Mažylis. 

Jūratė Devižienė, Head of the LMT International Programs Department, agrees with this. According to her, the Horizon program is implemented on a competitive basis, the competition is fierce, and the work and experience of the old EU countries is superior. She also explains the extremely low funding of science in Lithuania due to the lack of political will. Lithuania's expenditure on research and experimental development is below the EU average. In many years, they do not account for 1% of GDP, including the EU Structural Funds. "Politicians do not understand the added value created by science in the long run, they want the result quickly and now, so that they can boast during the term or that the invested euro will immediately pay off at least twice," says J.Devižienė. According to her, although science, especially fundamental, is a risky investment, in the long run it always pays off, as the examples of many developed countries show. Another reason for the lag, mentioned by the LMT representative, is that science loses in public relations competitions. Researchers do not have the time or do not always understand the need to explain to society and politicians the benefits of their work, and often do not have the communication competencies and resources to do so, and are therefore unable to compete with other sectors that are much stronger in this respect. MEP L.Mažylis says that he does not notice the significant changes among scientists: "Still, they are more inclined to focus on the calls published by LMT - it is easier to submit an application in Lithuania." 

Another important area that lacks attention in Lithuania is science and business cooperation. Under the European Horizon program for 2021-2027. innovative small and medium-sized enterprises and research infrastructures will be supported. "It is necessary to unite sectors so that business feels the meaning of basic research - which states do it, they are the leaders," L. Mažylis believes. According to him, that is why small and medium-sized businesses are included in the program. "Our government should understand this - choose those areas where Lithuania may have a breakthrough or have work, and try to convince scientists that the eternal study of one and the same chemical compound or laser beam is not necessarily very important. Maybe we need to focus more on business and economic benefits," - he said."

Their explanations of the situation are too complex. In reality, the bribed Lithuanian government (Eligijau Masiuli, where are you? Not yet in prison?) serves primitive and greedy Lithuanian privatizers who do not know anything serious themselves, and don't need science. Therefore, the Lithuanian government doesn't need science. These predators will suck the last juices out of Lithuania, and take everything abroad (Numa-Numavičiau, where are you? In the UK?). They will leave us on the ropes.