Lithuania-U.S. Science and Innovation Forum: Registration Still Open

A unique opportunity to connect with, establish and strengthen collaboration with world-leading experts at the Lithuania-U.S. Science and Innovation Forum.

This event is dedicated to commemorating the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States of America, a historic milestone in democracy, remarkable scientific progress and global leadership in innovation.

To foster a stronger partnership between the two countries, the forum will bring together high-level policymakers, scientific leaders, researchers, innovators and business representatives from both the United States and Lithuania.

The aim of the Forum is to strengthen transatlantic cooperation, promote technological leadership, and ensure the competitiveness and resilience of innovation.

The event will feature representatives from NASA, MIT, Johns Hopkins University, the US innovation ecosystem, and Lithuanian public institutions.

Registration and full programme

(Gregory Mann. Photo from personal archive)

One of the keynote speakers will be Gregory Mann, NASA Europe Representative, on the topic “From Science to Strategic Capability”.

“My remarks at the forum will focus on how Lithuania’s participation in the Artemis Accords can provide new opportunities for Lithuania to participate in NASA’s return to the Moon and its planned lunar base, highlighting the potential for Lithuanian science and technology payloads to play a key role in humanity’s return to the Moon and onto Mars,” says Mr. Mann.

Based out of Paris, the expert oversees the implementation of NASA policies and programs with the European government, industry and academia. He serves as the lead U.S. Government authority on space-related matters, providing reporting, counselling and advice to the U.S. Ambassador to France, other U.S. diplomatic officials in Europe, and visiting U.S. Government officials.

Mr. Mann previously supported NASA’s Office of International and Interagency Relations as the desk officer for human exploration coordination with Asia and as lead for the Space Communications and Navigation Program. He is a former Executive Director for NASA’s International Space Station Advisory Committee, and previously supported the Heliophysics Division and served as international desk officer for the Republic of Korea and Southeast Asia.

Mr. Mann has a Master’s degree from the University of Georgia’s School of Public an International Affairs and an undergraduate degree in Humanities from New College of Florida. He is a recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal.

(Prof Markus Boehler. Photo: MIT)

Another distinguished guest will be Professor Markus Buehler of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who will present “Materials Intelligence: AI, Creativity and the Future of Scientific Discovery”.

“Materials encode intelligence through structure, hierarchy, and interaction across scales. In this keynote, I will explore how this idea extends from biological materials to artificial intelligence, scientific discovery, design, and creative practice. Beginning with molecular and multiscale principles, I will show how AI can help uncover new relationships between structure, function, and form, and how agentic AI can increasingly participate in hypothesis generation, simulation, materials design, and fabrication.

These same capabilities are enabling new forms of interaction between science, engineering, music, and art. The emerging opportunity is to create new modes of discovery in which human imagination, machine intelligence, and physical systems interact continuously, humans working side-by-side with swarms of AI. I will discuss what this convergence means for the future of materials, creativity, and scientific innovation and how it fosters a sustainable future,” says Prof Buehler.

Event Date: 21 October 2026

Venue: FTMC (Saulėtekio Ave. 3, Vilnius)

The Forum is organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, with FTMC and Lithuanian Consortium for Engagement with MIT as partners.

The Lithuania-U.S. Science and Innovation Forum forms part of the international science week "(re)SEARCH 2026", organised by the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL).

Source: FTMC and RCL