A recent international ranking confirmed that Lithuania is among the world’s top countries when it comes to turning innovation into measurable economic outcomes.

The Lithuanian sports technology startup FPRO recently attracted a €2 million investment from Tesonet. According to Karolina Urbonaitė, Head of the Startup Lithuania unit at the Innovation Agency, such announcements no longer surprise — Lithuania’s startup ecosystem is a space where ideas become globally relevant solutions. This is reinforced by the new APEXE Nations Regional Ranking, where Lithuania placed 13th globally.

The APEXE ranking, curated by Startup Genome and the Global Entrepreneurship Network, is the first cross-country index that measures not only innovation potential, but also how successfully that potential is translated into actual value: jobs, unicorns, and ecosystem growth.

The index evaluates several key factors — including scientific expertise, talent, startup success, and whether a country’s achievements exceed expectations based on population size or economic output. By placing 13th, Lithuania joins a group of countries that outperform relative to their size and resources.

“In other words, innovation here is not only created but efficiently converted into growth and results. It’s a clear signal that Lithuania is becoming a country where innovation not only starts, but works. We are no longer observers on the global tech map — we’re part of it,” says Karolina Urbonaitė, Head of Startup Lithuania.

Startup Ecosystem Value Grows Several-Fold

Lithuania’s innovation breakthrough is also evident in national figures. In 2024 alone, the total value of the Lithuanian startup ecosystem increased by €2 billion. Over the past decade, this value has grown 39 times.

According to Unicorns Lithuania, startups paid around €130 million in taxes to the national budget in Q1 2025 — a 20% increase compared to the same period last year. Today, more than 19,000 professionals work in Lithuanian startups, and the average salary in the sector grew by €500 over the past year to €4,600.

“The contribution of startups to the national economy is clear — from tax revenue and talent development to innovation output. This is a sector that strengthens not only technology, but also our confidence in what we can achieve,” says K. Urbonaitė.

Global Rankings Confirm Strong Position

Lithuania is also featured in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2025, which highlights rapidly growing innovation environments with strong potential to become global leaders. Vilnius is listed in the 71–80 range, among cities such as Tallinn, Zagreb, and Helsinki.

Other international rankings also recognize Lithuania’s progress. The Dealroom Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2025 ranks Vilnius as the 13th fastest-growing startup city globally and the leading city in the European Union. Meanwhile, the StartupBlink 2025 index ranks Lithuania 3rd globally in cybersecurity innovation strength and 1st in Europe.

Not Accidental: Policy and Tools Behind the Growth

This growth is no coincidence, notes the Head of Startup Lithuania. Behind it lies a clearly defined innovation policy and practical tools that help Lithuanian startups expand globally. A standout example is the international accelerator developed with the global innovation platform Plug and Play, which launched its fifth cycle this year.

Currently, Lithuania hosts 16 pre-accelerators and accelerators, four of which are coordinated by Startup Lithuania. These programs provide both mentorship and financial backing — Startup Lithuania’s instruments alone are valued at €16 million. This is part of a wider support system that includes business missions, travel funding, and diplomatic programs — creating a platform that enables startups to scale both locally and globally.

Events Play a Vital Role in Ecosystem Growth

A key part of the ecosystem is events — where partnerships are formed, investors are found, and communities are strengthened. One such flagship event is Startup Fair 2025, which will take place on October 9 in Vilnius. The international gathering will once again bring together startups, investors, and ecosystem players to connect, grow, and scale on a global stag