Interview with the Director of the Institute of Materials Science, Prof. Sigitas Tamulevičius, about his visit to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT):
The visit took place under the MISTI (MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives) program, signed between the Lithuanian consortium and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The consortium, which includes 12 Lithuanian science and business partners, also includes KTU. Lithuania became one of about 30 countries with which MIT signed such a strategic cooperation agreement. The program included a visit by consortium partners, during which we got acquainted with the institute’s activities and discussed cooperation opportunities. The visit, which took place from March 16-21 this year, had a fairly broad program and allowed us to visit many of the institute’s departments – the Center for International Studies, the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, the MIT School of Management, the MIT Lincoln Laboratory division, the MIT Entrepreneurship Center, the Energy and Environmental Center, the MIT Nano Center, and meet and discuss with scientists and administration.
The institute looks very impressive both in terms of its achievements and its environment. Preserving 19th-century buildings, the institute is constantly being supplemented with new laboratories, centers, and representations of global companies. The institute’s territory houses the most powerful nuclear reactor operated by universities, a huge micro and nanotechnology center with a 9300 m² cleanroom. The institute has its own police and medical center. At various times, 105 Nobel Prize laureates have worked at the institute, which is one of the leaders in the world university rankings. With a huge annual budget of nearly $5 billion, the institute is able to conduct cutting-edge research and invest in various entrepreneurship and innovation development programs. The institute’s administration and scientists are open to cooperation and gladly share their experiences and insights. Despite their busy schedules, MIT President Prof. Sally Kornbluth and Vice President Prof. Duane Bonong met and interacted with the Lithuanian delegation.
Innovation, entrepreneurship, close ties with business, and scientific research aimed at creating innovative products are perhaps the most important distinguishing features of the institute. Historically, MIT scientists have worked extensively in the field of defense technologies, and these traditions are continued at the Lincoln Laboratory, where modern technologies for national security are developed. The institute is a private organization and has accumulated a $25 billion endowment fund, which allows it to respond flexibly to the needs of the institution and external actions.
It was very pleasant to communicate with colleagues who, like the scientists of the Institute of Materials Science, work in the field of micro and nanotechnology. It is gratifying that some of our results interested the head of the MIT.nano center, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Bulović, and the head of the Metamaterials Laboratory, Dr. Svetlana Boriskina. We hope to continue this dialogue and jointly apply for a cooperation project, which is possible within the framework of the MISTI program. Such a project could ensure staff exchanges and cooperation with internationally recognized scientists.
