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After Vilnius University (VU) and the company UAB "Veikmės statyba" signed a construction contract worth €32.8 million, preparatory work has commenced on the new VU Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences building. The new facility, located on over 12,000 square meters in Saulėtekis Avenue, will house the faculty as well as the VU Life Sciences Center’s Translational Gene Technology Competence Center. This new infrastructure will consolidate high-level scientific research, studies, and business potential under one roof.
“This is part of our long-term vision to establish a fully integrated science and study campus in Saulėtekis. It’s only natural to complement the Faculty of Physics and the Life Sciences Center with the Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences, and eventually the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics. The new faculty in Saulėtekis will not only significantly improve the working and study conditions for researchers but will also foster interdisciplinary collaboration, enabling the development of new scientific projects and interdisciplinary study programs tailored to high-tech needs. Moreover, it will be a hub for close cooperation between science and various business sectors, ensuring the training of highly qualified specialists and the implementation of joint science and business initiatives,” says VU Rector Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas.
The new science-oriented building will feature a state-of-the-art experimental base and infrastructure designed to meet the needs of training specialists in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, and nanomaterials chemistry. With the demand for professionals in these fields continuously growing, the new space will ensure smooth execution of international science and technology projects, enabling successful competition on both European and global scales.
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The upcoming Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences will bring together scientific research, higher education, professional practice, and business potential in a single location. This integration will enable graduates to transition more quickly and effectively into professional practice, applying the latest technologies in their work. The infrastructure, designed for training highly qualified specialists, will also enhance the quality of education by incorporating innovative methodologies.
The new five-story building will house all six departments of the VU Faculty of Chemistry and Geosciences’ Institute of Chemistry. These departments actively conduct research and develop solutions in areas such as novel functional materials, molecular and supramolecular systems, sensors and biosensors, among others.
The building will also host the Translational Gene Technology Competence Center, which will unite clusters of cutting-edge scientific equipment and interdisciplinary expertise in areas such as gene editing, genomics, bioinformatics, and cell technologies. The Competence Center aims to establish an international-level life sciences ecosystem, effectively promoting collaboration between science and business to develop innovative services, products, and solutions for the healthcare sector. Particular attention will be given to age-related diseases and cancer. This initiative is expected to ensure efficient implementation of new biomedical programs and the advancement of treatment strategies.
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The Competence Center will house eight clusters: Sequencing and Bioinformatics, Flow Cytometry, Microscopy and Imaging, Eukaryotic Cell Engineering, Microbiology, Bioengineering, Mass Spectrometry, and Continuous Flow Synthesis. It will also feature other laboratories conducting advanced scientific research.
The construction of the new building is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2026.