Scientific Achievements and Impact

Competition Wins and Awards:

• In 2022, PhD student Mindaugas Ilickas was awarded a scholarship from the Kazickas Family Foundation.
• In 2021 PhD student Mindaugas Ilickas was awarded the Kazys Grinius Scholarship of the President of the Republic of Lithuania (groups of life sciences, health sciences, veterinary sciences, agricultural sciences, sports studies), for the academic year 2021-2022.
• In 2019 The Lithuanian science prize in the field of technological sciences was awarded to Rimantas Gudaitis, Šarūnas Meškinis, Sigitas Tamulevičius, Tomas Tamulevičius for the series of works “Micro-/nanostructures and nanomaterials for sensors, photonics and energy generation (2004-2018)”. Provided by Kaunas University of Technology.
• Dr. Asta Tamulevičienė in 2019-2020 is dedicated to Lithuanian Academy of Sciences scholarship for young scientists in the fields of physical, biomedical, agricultural and technological sciences for the work “Synthesis of silver nanoderivatives, their modification and application to surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensors”.
• The Institute’s team of researchers was awarded for the successful development of the University’s cooperation with external partners in the field of high technology in 2019.
• In 2019 dr. Algirdas Lazauskas is the winner of KTU’s most active young scientists competition in the fields of natural or technological sciences, senior researcher at the Institute of Materials Science.
• In 2019 researchers Rasa Mardosaitė, Agnė Šulčiūtė, Mindaugas Ilickas and Simas Račkauskas participated in the innovation exhibition “Technorama” and presented their work “Paintable sensors and solar cell coatings from multifunctional ZnO nanomaterials”, for which they were awarded a 500-euro prize from the Practica Capital company.
• The research work of Tomas Klinavičius, a student of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the KTU Institute of Materials Science, “Compilation and testing of a diffraction image synthesis algorithm for optical anti-counterfeiting signs” (supervisor, Chief Researcher, Prof. Dr. Tomas Tamulevičius) LMA Mathematics, Physics and Chemical Sciences department was awarded the LMA prize in 2018. in the competition of research works of high school students.
• In 2018 at the end of the year, for joint work with KTU Multimedia Engineering Department researchers, the institute’s team of scientists was awarded for the successfully completed interdisciplinary project “Creation and implementation of hologram diffraction image projection algorithm for smart devices (HoloApp)””financed by the KTU MTEPI Foundation and the results achieved during it.
• Researcher dr. Tomas Tamulevičius, Kazickas Family Foundation Award for 2017
• The Kaunas Science Prize 2017 was awarded to the director of the institute, prof. Sigitas Tamulevičius. This prize is awarded for many years of active and significant scientific activity, the highest scientific achievements or innovative scientific ideas and their implementation in Kaunas.
• Dr. Tomas Tamulevičius LMA competition for young scientists in the fields of physical, biomedical, technological and agricultural science. For 2017-2018 LMA Young Scientists Scholarship.
• PhD student Jolita Sakaliūniene. KTU special prize at the exhibition-competition of young scientists “Technorama 2015” for the presentation of the most innovative work (title of the work: Towards solid oxide fuel microelement).
• Dr. Algirdas Lazauskas LMA competition for young scientists in physical, biomedical, technological and agricultural science fields. For 2015-2016 LMA Young Scientists Scholarship.
• Dr. Tomas Tamulevičius LMA competition for young scientists in the fields of physical, biomedical, technological and agricultural science. For 2013-2014 LMA Young Scientists Scholarship.

Patents and patent applications

2022

2021

Events organised by the Institute

• Initiator and main organiser of the International Conference-School “Advanced materials and technologies” since 1998.
• The event is very popular among PhD students and young researchers in physics, chemistry and materials science. This conference is an excellent opportunity for young scientists to interact and hear about the latest research in physics, chemistry and materials science from the best experts in their field. This event is an excellent training ground for the development of general and specific skills of PhD students and for the development of productive international cooperation.
• Organiser of the International Conference “Nanotechnology and Innovation in the Baltic Sea Region” since 2017.
• The Institute participates in the European Doctoral Network “Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials” (15 members from 5 European countries).

Scientific publications

• Scientific journal “Materials Science – Medžiagotyra”. Chief Editor – Prof. S. Tamulevičius, Referees – Dr. D. Jucius, Dr. Š.Meškinis, Dr. M.Andrulevičius, Dr. V. Grigaliūnas, Dr. R. Gudaitis, Dr. E. Fataraitė-Urbonienė, Dr. T. Tamulevičius, Dr. A. Tamulevičienė, Dr. A. Guobienė, Dr. A. Lazauskas.
• Refereeing and editing of the books of abstracts for International Conferences “Advanced Materials and Technologies” and “Nanotechnology and Innovation in the Baltic Sea Region”.
• Referees for journals published by Elsevier – Dr. Š. Meškinis, Dr. A. Lazauskas, Prof. S.Tamulevičius, Dr. V. Grigaliūnas, Dr. A. Guobienė, Dr. M. Andrulevičius, Dr. T. Tamulevičius.

Technological solutions

The Institute of Materials Science enjoys international reputation for world-class research, and is acknowledged for its expertise within the University, the Country and abroad. Research findings are applied for Lithuanian laser, electronics, micro technology, mechatronics, polygraph industry by Vilniaus Ventos Puslaidininkiai, JSC Precizika Metrology, JSC Technology, JSC Teravil, JSC Sebra, JSC Lodvila, and other companies. Research results are used for development of new sensors, THz radiation emitters, protective coatings, as well as document anti-counterfeiting solutions developed within the Institute.

A spin-off enterprise, Holtida, was created in 2014 for commercialising optical document security elements created at the Institute. The license for safety documents and safety document blanc production was acquired, and a patent claim was submitted: No. 2015 051, name of invention “A Combined Holographic Sticker”.

Nanoversa is a start-up company that was established in 2020 to commercialize the outcomes of the nanophotonic related prospective research results obtained at the Kaunas University of Technology in the last decade. It is dedicated to but is not limited to expanding the application horizons of nanophotonics, diffractive optics, nanolaser, etc.

MB “Zinotech” was established in 2021 and offering non-reflective self-cleaning / superhydrophobic coatings for solar cells or other surfaces. The small association was founded in order to commercialize the products developed during the projects carried out at the Kaunas University of Technology.

In cooperation with JSC Precizika Metrology during 2011–2013, a joint MITA high tech development program project called “Nanostructured Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings for Novel Optical Metrology Components (NanoDLC)” was carried out (project leader Prof S. Tamulevičius, ca. 73 000 EUR). Results were applied within the company while developing scales for precision laser measurement systems. This product was awarded a gold medal in the national competition Product of the Year 2015.

Researchers and scientists of the Institute are developing technological solutions that are applicable and can be adapted to needs of various manufacturing processes.