Projects

ON-GOING PROJECTS

PRocess Innovations for the Mineral industry focusing on ROasting and Calcination Kiln technologies and supported by novel pre- and post-processing (PRIM-ROCK), Horizon Europe, 2024 – 2028.
The aim of the project is to develop a portfolio of technologies to a higher resource efficiency and lower level of GHG emissions of extractive industries. The project will focus on improving the resource efficiency of the calcination and roasting processes, that are commonly used in the mineral and cement industries. The head of the project – assoc. prof. dr. Rytis Skominas. Webpage: PRIM-ROCK

Geothermal Extraction and Upgrade with Flexible Usage for Industrial Heat Applications (GEOFLEXHEAT), Horizon Europe, 2024 – 2027.The project aims to revolutionize the European geothermal energy sector by introducing an innovative suite of technologies to enhance the extraction, efficiency and application of geothermal heat across diverse industrial sectors. At the core of project lies the development of a Heat Pipe Heat Exchanger coupled with an advanced Scaling Reactor to improve heat recovery from geothermal brine while simultaneously providing valuable mineral byproducts. The head of the project – prof. dr. Jurgita Malinauskaitė. Webpage: GEOFLEXHEAT

Streamlining the optimisation of Sustainable Thermal Energy systems and Prototype technologies in process industries (StreamSTEP), Horizon Europe, 2024 – 2028.
StreamSTEP is the vision of 31 organisations across EU, Switzerland, Norway and UK, aspiring to trigger significant improvements of how heating energy is managed within industrial processes. The project will address processes that generate waste heat across all temperature grades, from 135°C to over 1400°C, deploying five innovative heat exchanger prototypes for challenging applications and achieving flexible operation across multiple heat sinks. The head of the project – prof. dr. Julija Kiršienė. Webpage: StreamSTEP

BOOSTing the bioeconomy transformation FOR (4) the BIOEAST region (BOOST4BIOEAST), Horizon Europe, 2024–2026.
The BOOST4BIOEAST project aims to set in motion the levers for bioeconomy deployment in the Central Eastern European and Baltic countries. The consortium will focus on building upon BIOEASTsUP outcomes and the Vision Paper of the BIOEAST Initiative by boosting the participation of national stakeholder networks in the development of national bioeconomy action plans and to build long-lasting structures for national and macro-regional cooperation. The head of the project – assoc. prof. dr. Rasa Pakeltienė. Webpage: BOOST4BIOEAST

Assess and label the environmental sustainability of European projects (GreenEURproject), Erasmus+ Key Action 2, 2024-2026.
In response to the EU’s climate and sustainability goals, The GreenEURproject introduces a framework to measure and improve the environmental impact of EU-funded projects. By providing a sustainability label, practical guidance, and policy recommendations, GreenEURproject encourages transparency, accountability, and green practices among project leaders and evaluators. This project will ultimately help align EU projects with sustainable development priorities while fostering an eco-conscious approach across sectors. The head of the project – dr. Dainius Savickas. Webpage: GreenEURProject

Creation of the centre of excellence in smart forestry (Forest 4.0), Horizon Europe, 2023–2029.

Overall objective of Vytautas Magnus University coordinated project is to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) to transform forest environment monitoring, data acquisition and analysis, and to capture value from the data, employing technologies of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT). The CoE will implement an ambitious long-term research and innovation strategy, and will also provide innovation services to businesses and host a startup incubator. The coordinator of the project at the institute – Virginija Kargytė. Webpage: Forest 4.0 (forest40.lt)

GREEN FARM (GFarm for LIFE), Life, 2023-2026.

The main activities of GFarm for LIFE project will take place in the GHG monitoring of Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector. AFOLU term is used in proposal specified for Forest Land – Agroforestry, Cropland, Grassland, Livestock audit and Manure Management and N2O Emissions from Managed Soils. With replicability to aim of adapting and extension the project results to the rest of the AFOLU sector. Hread of the project – doc. dr. Rytis Skominas. Webpage: GFarm – GFarm for LIFE

New governance models to enhance nutrient pollution handling and nutrients recycling (NENUPHAR), Horizon Europe, 2023–2027.
NENUPHAR developing new governance and value chain solutions addressing three waste streams widely present and the EU: manure, sewage sludges and dairy wastewaters, addressing four main innovations (i) a methodology for estimating N/P emissions from the application of a fertiliser on soil (ii) new governance models based on a network governance approach (iii) innovative economic and financial incentives for public and private entities; (iv) enabling technologies to treat manure, sludges and dairy wastewaters to recover the nutrient loads. Head of the project – prof. dr. Arvydas Povilaitis. Webpage: NENUPHAR

Creating resilient rural communities in BSR based on the opportunities of digital bio businesses (eRural resilience), Interreg Baltic Sea Reagion, 2023–2026.
The project aims to provide the target groups, rural local authorities and business promotion centres, with a holistic solution to support the creation of e-bio-businesses in rural areas. By gathering BSR TRANSNATIONAL specialist in bio, marketing, digitalization, logistic, etc., the consortium will provide a holistic service to communities, assuring that each rural business receives specialized support based on their needs, which otherwise could not be achieved locally or regionally. The head of the project – assoc. prof. dr. Jolita Greblikaitė. Webpage: eRural resilience

Development of the Bioeconomy Research Centre of Excellence (BioTEC), “University Excellence Initiatives” program, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, 2023-2027.
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen the quality of R&D in areas of Agronomy and Environmental Engineering by developing advanced, high quality research. Research topics of the project include healthy soil and plants, suistainable agriculture and food systems, digitization and robotization of agriculture, climate change and the importance of sustainable use of resources. Head of the project – dr. Monika Medikienė. Scientific head of the project – prof. dr. Zita Kriaučiūnienė. Webpage: Bioeconomy Research Centre of Excellence (BioTEC)