An invention, one of the objects of industrial property, is defined as a new solution to a technical or technological problem or a method associated with creating a new device, product, or process—or improving an existing one.
Legally, an idea can be considered an invention if it meets three mandatory criteria defined in the Lithuanian Patent Law:

• Industrial applicability
• Novelty
• Inventive step

What Is Not Considered an Invention?
According to legislation governing the legal protection of inventions, the following are not regarded as inventions:

• Discoveries, scientific theories, and mathematical methods
• External appearance of products
• Rules, plans, and methods for games, intellectual or economic activities, as well as computer programs
• Methods of presenting information
• The human body or its elements in their natural environment, including gene sequences at any stage of formation or development.
  (This does not apply to elements extracted from the human body or obtained through a technological process, even if their structure is identical to that found in nature.)

Legal Protection of an Invention
Unlike copyright protection for creative works, legal protection for an invention can only be obtained by filing a patent application with the patent office. The terms of protection are calculated from the date of filing or the priority date.
While patenting is not mandatory, it is essential if the holder of property rights wishes to implement the invention in society and prevent unauthorized use or exploitation by others.
 

Confidentiality Principle
To obtain legal protection, information about the invention may only be published or disclosed publicly after the patent application has been officially registered with the patent office. Ideas and know-how cannot be patented but may be protected as copyright objects.
 

Exclusive Rights Granted by a Patent
A patent grants exclusive rights within the chosen territory:

• If the patent covers a product, the patent holder has the exclusive right to prohibit others from manufacturing, using, offering for sale, selling, importing, or exporting the product without permission.
• If the patent covers a manufacturing method, the patent holder has the exclusive right to prohibit others from using the method and from using, offering for sale, selling, importing, or exporting any product obtained directly through that method.

Once the Innovation Department receives a completed invention disclosure form and information about a new idea or Research and Development (R&D) solution, it evaluates the possibilities for exercising and/or protecting property rights. This includes assessing:

• Whether the idea is based on novelty and has freedom to operate for starting the patenting process
• If there are co-authors and what share of the solution belongs to them
• Whether the invention is a result of a funded project and what intellectual property protection conditions apply

Because patenting requires long-term financial investment, legal protection is sought only for service inventions with commercial potential. The university’s Intellectual Property Management and Investment Committee evaluates inventions submitted for patenting and their commercial prospects. 

The committee provides recommendations to the Rector or an authorized person regarding:

• The possibility of seeking legal protection for the disclosed invention or other industrial property object
• Compensation of patenting costs from the Innovation Fund, allocated for patenting expenses

When the Rector or an authorized person approves legal protection for the invention, the Innovation Department consults inventors on:

• Preparing the patent application
• Selecting the territorial scope of patent validity
• Other actions related to the patenting process

Patent procedures for service inventions created at the university are carried out with the participation of and representation by AAA Law, a legal office whose patent attorneys have the necessary expertise and extensive experience in patenting across relevant R&D fields.

Contracted R&D work ensures the latest insights and expert proposals from researchers to address specific tasks of varying scope and duration.

To protect the rights of both researchers and the university, it is essential to sign a Contracted R&D Agreement with the client. A clear technical specification and activity planning are crucial for these projects, and the terms of the agreement follow a standard format.
You can find a typical Contracted R&D Agreement template in Lithuanian and English here. 

The Innovation Department is always available for consultations on organizing contracted R&D projects, negotiating with companies, preparing researcher competence profiles, and ensuring interdisciplinary collaboration for commissioned work (also known as match-making).

For more information: innovations@vu.lt

Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) are common in academic practice when sharing materials created during research for further use in scientific studies. When negotiating with partners about transferring materials developed at the university, it is important to define which materials will be transferred (e.g., chemical or biological) and under what conditions they will be used.

The Innovation Department can provide standard MTA clauses in Lithuanian or English, or review and give feedback on MTAs proposed by partners.

For more information: innovations@vu.lt

Licensing begins with the financial evaluation of created knowledge, technologies, or patented R&D solutions, followed by aligning key negotiation terms within the university before presenting them to potential partners. Negotiation is crucial because licensing agreements are rarely based on standard conditions.

Important aspects of a licensing agreement include:

• Whether the license is exclusive or non-exclusive
• Definition of licensed products
• Territorial scope of the license
• Financial terms
• Duration of the agreement
• Responsibilities of the licensor and licensee

Licensing is a key form of collaboration between science and business. It enables R&D solutions developed at the university to be further improved, adapted to user needs, and transferred to companies for market implementation—or to startups that can open doors to new markets.

Special attention should be given to licensing opportunities for computer programs, databases, and software created at the university. While these are treated as copyrighted works, in certain cases, the Intellectual Property Management and Investment Committee may recommend investment decisions for university-developed software.

Open-source software solutions require a different approach, so we always recommend consulting on commercialization potential and ways to model appropriate solutions for the market.

If you plan to license your solutions, contact us: innovations@vu.lt

Confidentiality or Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are typically signed between the university and a company to explore collaboration opportunities while ensuring that confidential information is not disclosed to third parties. These agreements are often concluded before the first negotiation meeting with the research team, allowing both the company and the researchers to discuss the defined topic freely.

Such agreements mark the potential start of collaboration, enabling:

• The university to understand the company’s challenges, issues, and plans for competitive advantage
• The company to assess the novelty of R&D solutions developed at the university and the depth of available expertise

When long-term collaboration begins, an NDA often becomes an integral part of the partnership, depending on the company’s strategy and the scope of confidential information or trade secrets involved.

Usually, the initial NDA draft is proposed by the company. However, the university also has a standard NDA template that we recommend using when initiating partnerships—such as licensing university-developed technologies or know-how, or negotiating joint activities and other forms of long-term cooperation.

The standard NDA can be adapted to meet the needs and proposed changes of the company with which collaboration is planned.

For a standard NDA version (in Lithuanian or English), please contact: innovations@vu.lt

R&D activities at the university are coordinated and carried out together with business enterprises, projects gain momentum and open opportunities for rapid application of R&D solutions. Joint activities require not only mutual collaboration throughout the entire process but also contributions from each party—such as human resources, financial investments, infrastructure, and intangible assets—as well as a clear understanding of how jointly created results will be shared.

The university is an active partner in joint R&D activities and projects. However, to properly assess the resources needed for such collaborations, the university carefully evaluates its ability to participate fully. Before investing financial resources in joint initiatives that form the basis for a shared R&D agenda (such as a project or program), an internal committee reviews the feasibility of committing to the development of these activities with partners.

For questions, please contact: innovations@vu.lt

Lithuania is among the leading countries that prioritize innovative solutions to meet societal needs. For the university community, this presents an excellent opportunity to offer expertise or existing Research and Development (R&D) solutions to social partners who are shaping the demand for innovative solutions in various public sectors.

Currently, Lithuanian legislation allows for innovative public procurement, meaning that before purchasing an innovative product that does not yet exist on the market, a public institution consults with suppliers about the most advanced implementation options and selects the solution or product that best meets its functional needs.

One way to contribute to solving major social challenges in the public sector is by participating in pre-commercial procurement or state-funded R&D contracts—offering your expertise, ideas for addressing challenges, and implementation plans. The Science, Innovation and Technology Agency administers pre-commercial procurements and announces opportunities where Vilnius University researchers can participate as suppliers.

For more information: innovations@vu.lt

Doctoral studies carried out jointly with companies are one of the forms of collaboration between the university and industry. This partnership involves setting a shared R&D agenda during the doctoral study process. Joint doctoral studies represent a collaborative R&D project—engaging in defining business challenges, shaping research agendas, creating solutions, testing, and implementing them within the company environment.

For university researchers, this is a direct path to developing and applying R&D solutions created during doctoral studies in real business contexts. Doctoral candidates have a unique opportunity to identify business challenges and address them as part of their studies. For scientific supervisors—both from the university and the company—joint doctoral studies can lead to new R&D topics and additional collaborative projects. For the company, it is an investment in finding solutions to its specific operational challenges.

It is important to note that joint doctoral studies represent a mature and long-term partnership, focused on idea exchange, complementary resources, and a shared goal based on the novelty and applicability of R&D solutions. Alongside partnership, joint doctoral studies also prepare highly qualified specialists tailored to meet the specific needs of the company.

Currently, the university conducts joint doctoral studies with the following companies:

• UAB CasZyme
• UAB Femtika
• UAB MGF Šviesos konversija

For more information about opportunities to conduct joint doctoral studies with companies, please contact the Doctoral Studies Department.

The principle of open access to the university’s R&D services and equipment located in academic units allows business, social, and other partners to use research services and laboratory infrastructure according to their needs.

Open access includes standardized R&D services and typical conditions under which partners, with appropriate qualifications, can use university laboratory equipment for their own purposes. For academic units, this creates opportunities to attract potential partners, develop long-term collaborations, carry out joint R&D activities, and reduce laboratory maintenance costs.

Details about open access to R&D services and equipment available for rent at the university are provided in the partneriams.vu.lt

The Innovation Department team will assist in describing the R&D services and equipment available in your academic unit, setting usage fees, and answering any questions related to organizing open access.

For more information: innovations@vu.lt

In local, regional, and global science-business ecosystems, partner networks are interconnected in various ways and forms. These may include topic-based networking, interdisciplinary partnerships, cluster formation to ensure value chains in the market, and multilateral cooperation in implementing projects or initiatives.

The university actively participates in numerous associations, engages in international initiatives and clusters. Networking with business, social, academic, and other organizations is essential for R&D activities, opening opportunities for multilateral projects, new initiatives, and broader involvement of the university community in societal activities.

It is important to note that the university participates in the activities of limited liability entities operating on a membership basis only when the planned or ongoing activities align with the university’s mission and objectives as defined in its statute. Participation is guided by principles of public benefit, efficiency, rationality, accountability, and autonomy in economic activities. If membership in such organizations requires entry or periodic fees, decisions regarding participation are made by the relevant academic units, the Rector, or the University Council.

For more information: innovations@vu.lt

When collaborating with companies, Vilnius University can provide part of its R&D services as state aid or de minimis aid. The provision of state and de minimis aid is regulated by European Union and Lithuanian legislation, so it is important to carefully assess the conditions for granting aid and comply with applicable legal requirements.

For any questions related to state or de minimis aid, please contact the VU Innovation Department: innovations@vu.lt