Dear participants of the third conference “Communication and Information Sciences in Network Society: Experience and Insights. III”
It is probably not a revelation that the general public might be divided into two parts: those who think that science can do anything, and those who are afraid that it will. Apart from the totally diverging appreciation of its effects, this statement suggests that in fact all of us react affirmatively to the question: does science matter?
Yes, science matters. And therefore it is my pleasure to welcome you on behalf of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, since all National Academies of Sciences pursue the key strategic goal to consistently promote high level of research, research-based studies and education.
Your conference will work in six sections. All they are equally interesting and important. However in my short talk I would like to dwell on the last one section and the first plenary lecture that both deal with the knowledge and innovation management. To many researchers and company managers in Lithuania, currently this is one of the most hot topics, since during the last 5 years on EU money we built large infrastructures in 5 so-called valleys or officially Integrated Science, Studies and Business Centers. Among other issues of valley management, these infrastructures have put the establishment of Knowledge or Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) at the center of strategic planning for government.
Will we learn lessons of TTOs operation in other countries?
For instance, some years ago in U.S. was conducted a survey of directors of TTOs at U.S. academic institutions to determine how they are organized, tasked, financed, and motivated. It was found some interesting quantitative data. Among them that over half the technology transfer programs bring in less money than the costs of operating the program, and only 16% are self-sustaining, bringing in enough income that, after distributions to inventors and for research, there are sufficient funds to cover the operating costs of the program. This finding in one of the most innovative countries of the world must give a headache for other countries seeking to become innovative.
This is my message to our decision-makers – think, evaluate critically as all we scientists, including participants of this conference, do in science. I think that this is also valid when we talk, for instance, about Interaction of Media and Politics or Creative Industries, and etc. Thank you and all the success to the conference. Enjoy Vilnius.