OPENPLAST – Plastics and new materials cluster development
ERDF Project No.: VP2-1.3-ŪM-01-K-01-032
Chemicals and plastics is one of the largest sectors in Lithuania. Production of basic chemicals and plastics accounts more than 81% of chemical industry turnover. The sector employs more than 5,400 employees. Investments into sector reach 159 million Euros ant it’s about 20% of the total foreign investment in the Lithuanian manufacturing sector. More than half of the sector production is exported. However, the sector’s development is directly dependent on fossil fuels, which means that business competitiveness is decreasing due to rising oil prices. Using biopolymers, recycled plastics or nanomaterials in order to increase the functionality of their products, companies can reduce material costs and increase its value.
Manufacturers of different plastics and new materials banded together into a cluster and launched this project to enhance the competitiveness of Lithuanian plastics, by exploiting plastics and new materials company synergies and strengthening cooperation with science. Successful implementation of the OPENPLAST project will generate long-term partnership between the cluster private entities and academic and research institutions, which will encourage RTD activities, and strengthen internal and external cooperation. This significantly accelerate the development of both the cluster and the sector and will encourage its active work, while creating conditions for increase of Lithuania plastics industry international competitiveness.
