The Biobank of Lithuanian Population and Rare Disorders Director Appointed as Lithuania's Representative to the COST Science Diplomacy Network

2026-03-10
The Biobank of Lithuanian Population and Rare Disorders Director Appointed as Lithuania's Representative to the COST Science Diplomacy Network

COST – the European Cooperation in Science and Technology initiative – is one of the oldest and most wide-reaching funding mechanisms for scientific networks in Europe. SiDnet, operating as one of many COST Actions, unites researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders seeking to advance science diplomacy as a multidisciplinary field at the intersection of science, technology, and diplomacy, addressing pressing global challenges.

The Biobank Director is actively working in two working groups. The first – "Diplomacy for Science within technological sovereignty and governance" – seeks to facilitate international scientific collaboration while addressing concerns related to technological sovereignty, data governance, and security. The third – "Science for Diplomacy via international scientific cooperation in difficult geopolitical contexts" – focuses on using scientific collaboration as a tool for improving relations between nations, particularly in regions of geopolitical tension.

Dr. Kvedaravičienė's involvement in these working groups is no coincidence. Biomedical research today is inherently international: patient data, biological samples, and scientific insights travel across borderless networks of researchers. Yet not all countries follow the same ethical standards or data protection rules, and geopolitical conflicts can disrupt vital scientific collaboration. Participation in SiDnet enables active contribution to shaping shared European principles – ensuring that cutting-edge medical knowledge reaches patients regardless of political barriers.

Lithuania is represented in this network by two delegates – alongside a representative from Kaunas University of Technology – giving the country a stronger voice in shaping the common European position. Leading European academic and research organisations are calling on universities and scientific communities to be recognised as strategic actors in EU science diplomacy, emphasising their importance in building trust and shaping international cooperation policy.

 

Read more about the project here:  https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA24169/

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