Lithuania to seek full CERN membership, says PM
Lithuania's Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius announced that the country will formally apply for full membership in CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, with the request to be submitted shortly.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said on Friday that the country will officially apply for full membership in CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. According to the government, the formal request will be submitted to the organisation in the near future.
Sinkevičius noted that Lithuanian scientists, students and companies in innovative sectors have already benefited from the country's associate membership status, but full membership would open up even broader opportunities. It would give Lithuania a stronger voice in shaping European innovation policy and help strengthen its competences in high-value-added sectors.
Moving beyond associate status
The government explained that full membership would lift restrictions currently placed on associate members. Lithuania has held associate membership since 2018, a period during which Lithuanian scientists, doctoral students and interns have taken part in CERN's work, while Lithuanian companies have been able to bid for the organisation's contracts. Achieving full membership is listed as a goal in the government's programme.
Separately, President Gitanas Nausėda has said he wants to deepen Lithuania's cooperation with CERN, particularly in artificial intelligence, advanced detector systems and quantum technologies.
CERN brings together 25 member states and associate partners engaged in physics research and in developing technologies that have a significant impact on industry, medicine and information technology worldwide.
