Promoting Patenting in Lithuania

Problem

Lithuania’s strategic documents increasingly emphasize the importance of science and innovation. The National Progress Plan (NPP) links scientific knowledge, advanced technologies, and innovation to the country’s international competitiveness as its first strategic objective. However, it is acknowledged that “the potential of creative solutions for developing new products and opportunities for intellectual property generating activities are not being sufficiently utilised.” Therefore, as one of its objectives, the NPP calls for “promoting the creation and use of intellectual property.” The Government Program aims to “promote innovation and a competitive business environment <…>,” “support the development of breakthrough technologies <…>,” and so on.

Intellectual property encompasses industrial property as well as copyright and related rights. The focus of this project is on inventions and their protection through patents.

Patenting at both national and international levels is a form of legal protection that grants the owner exclusive rights to the created product or service. This means that only the patent owner may control the invention (manufacture it, sell it, etc.). Inventors can use patent ownership as a prestige factor when seeking and attracting investors or partners. It also provides the opportunity to commercialise the invention through licensing by granting clearly defined rights of use to third parties.

Although research data shows that Lithuania can boast a significant number of startups, innovative, technology based, and digital businesses, the country’s indicators for patent applications and granted patents remain low. According to data from the European Commission, Lithuania ranks 25th out of 27 EU countries in terms of patent applications. The indicators for this index did not show positive trends in performance during the 2018–2025 period. National patent statistics show a steady decline in applications during the 2021–2024 period, although the trend is more positive in 2025, when 93 applications were received (12 of which were filed by foreign applicants).

Data provided by the European Patent Office reveals another challenge for Lithuanian applicants – the number of granted applications remains low, and the gap between filed and granted applications is still significant.

These indicators suggest that Lithuania’s patenting culture is in an early stage of development or faces significant challenges. Promoting and strengthening the country’s patenting culture would contribute not only to more active protection of innovations, commercialisation of inventions, and improvement of the country’s image internationally, but also to the achievement of national strategic goals.

Goal

The goal of the project is to identify the segment of Lithuanian companies with the greatest potential for patenting and to encourage them to patent their products or services.

Participants

2025/26

Monika Whittingham