On 21 March 2007 the Government of the Republic of Lithuania has approved the Concept for Establishment and Development of Integrated Science, Studies and Business Centres (Valleys)

The Concept conveys the vague bureaucratic “discovery” that Integrated Science, Studies and Business Centres (Valleys) are absolutely crucial for kicking-off innovative economy in Lithuania. Unfortunately, instead of offering a clear and transparent PPP model the Concept essentially deals with the procedure and preconditions for establishing the Integrated Science, Studies and Business Centre (Valley). Vague promise that the Valley may be given certain incentive access to the EU Structural Funds and other public funding is also made.

All this means that instead of moving forward, the existing Valley initiatives are at risk of being swamped into major the bureaucratic hassle, i.e. reformatting themselves as the Valleys under the Concept, and spending valuable resources for developing of the documentation of the Valley.

Since IRII staff is partially involved in the process, we continue to lobby for the PPP centric model of the Integrated Science, Studies and Business Centres (Valleys). Hopefully, such model is introduced through the documentation of the Valley and makes its way into the bureaucratic minds.