Executive Summary
Defense Research Fellows Program: 50+ fellows annually working on military-relevant problems. Components: senior fellows, junior fellows, visiting practitioners (military officers at universities), and rapid research grants. Focus areas: AI/autonomy, electronic warfare, materials, cyber, medical. Bridge: researchers embedded with military units, military officers at research institutions. Modeled on proven programs: DARPA's rotating program manager model, Israel's Talpiot elite R&D track, UK's DSTL academic partnerships, and Ukraine's BRAVE1 defense-tech cluster that produced 200+ drone systems in two years.
Creates sovereign defense innovation capacity, positions Lithuania as regional defense-tech hub, generates IP and spin-offs, builds lasting networks between military and academia, enables participation in NATO and EU collaborative research programs
In short: 50+ research fellows annually; €4M+ distributed to researchers; 30+ defense-relevant publications; pathway to Lithuanian participation in €7.3B European Defence Fund
The Problem
Ukrainian research acceleration: academics pivoted to defense problems, producing innovations in drones, electronic warfare, and medical care. Ukrainian professor: 'Before war, I published papers no soldier read. Now I develop drone algorithms tested in combat within weeks. Real feedback, real impact—research that matters.' Lithuanian research gap: academics and military remain disconnected. Top researchers work on commercial problems. Defense challenges lack research attention. Innovation happens elsewhere. Without research-military connection, Lithuania imports innovation rather than creating it.
No dedicated defense research fellowship program exists in Lithuania. Compare: US NDSEG Fellowship funds ~160 PhD students annually at $40,800/year plus full tuition. UK DSTL has 100+ PhD studentships through UK-France joint program. Israel's Talpiot program selects elite students for 9-year defense R&D commitment, producing innovations like Iron Dome. Estonia hosts NATO CCDCOE with 39 member nations. Lithuania has none of these mechanisms.
Without action: Brain drain continues—top Lithuanian researchers pursue commercial opportunities or emigrate. Defense procurement remains 100% import-dependent. No domestic innovation ecosystem develops. Lithuania excluded from collaborative defense research networks requiring research capacity. €7.3B European Defence Fund remains inaccessible without qualified researchers to participate in consortia.
Lithuanian Context
Lithuania spends 5%+ of GDP on defense but lacks dedicated research capacity. Neighbors have established programs: Finland (VTT + Lockheed partnership), Estonia (NATO CCDCOE), Poland (expanding defense R&D). Lithuania can leverage existing academic strengths—Vilnius University, Kaunas University of Technology, VGTU—to build defense research capacity. EU membership enables access to €7.3B European Defence Fund requiring research consortia participation.
Geographic position 65km from Suwalki Gap creates urgent research priorities: ISR, EW, counter-drone, logistics under fire. Baltic Sea proximity aligns with naval/maritime research needs. Border with Belarus/Kaliningrad drives cyber and hybrid threat research. Regional coordination with Finland, Estonia, Poland multiplies research impact.