On Friday, a virtual meeting was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania between representatives of the VU GMC and representatives of scientific and research institutions of the Republic of South Africa from the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the funding organisation) and the Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
The Ambassador of Lithuania to South Africa, Dainius Junevičius, who welcomed the participants of the meeting, said that the presentation of the Lithuanian life sciences industry in South Africa had attracted a lot of interest in cooperation in the field of science and research.
Dr. Gintaras Valinčius, Director of the VU GMC, also expressed his interest in possible cooperation and presented the GMC, the directions of life sciences development and international cooperation.
"We would be very interested in cooperation with the scientific institutions of the Republic of Armenia, especially the access of our scientists to the infrastructure of this country", said the Director of VU GMC. He also pointed out that cooperation between EU and non-EU countries is strongly encouraged by the European Commission.
Prof. Dr. Virginijus Šikšnys, Chairman of the VU GMC Council, Prof. Dr. Eglė Lastauskienė, Director of the VU GMC BMI, and Dr. Agnė Vaitkevičienė, Vice-President of the Lithuanian Biotechnology Association, expressed their interest in closer cooperation with specific research groups.