Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering hosted the “Innovation and Science Week.” The opening event featured a team from the “Agrokoncernas” group of companies, initiating dialogue between business and academia.
At the opening session, KTU alumni and professionals in their fields shared insights on cutting-edge technologies – from green hydrogen and artificial intelligence to autonomous agricultural solutions.
“By staying close to students, we aim to motivate them to explore technology, offer internships, support their growth, and contribute to preparing specialists who meet market needs,” said Greta Simanavičienė, Senior HR Projects Specialist.
KTU Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Mindaugas Žilys emphasized the faculty’s broad spectrum of science and technology – from renewable energy and smart control systems to robotics widely applied in agribusiness, as well as research in electronics, sensors, and image recognition technologies.
According to the dean, these fields are not only relevant to today’s industry but also easily applicable in real-world business scenarios.
“Listening to agribusiness practitioners, I realized the many touchpoints between our research and innovations applied in business. It’s great to see the technologies our scientists work on already being used in agribusiness,” said Prof. Dr. Mindaugas Žilys.
Sustainability as a strategic goal
Lecturers, students, and guests spent the day with employees from one of the leading agribusiness companies. KTU alumni who now work at “Agrokoncernas” returned for the occasion.
Panel participants included Žilvinas Juškys, Deputy Director for Innovation at the Agricultural Innovation Center, Žygintas Mockevičius, Deputy Director of Construction at “Agrokoncernas,” Greta Simanavičienė, Senior HR Project Manager at “Agrokoncerno grupė,” and Finance Specialist Živilė Budriūtė.
Experts from various fields delivered five unique lectures focused on responsible, innovative, and advanced farming.
Dr. Arvydas Stončius, Project Manager at “Agrokoncernas GDP,” kicked off with a lecture on “Green Hydrogen – A Universal Decarbonization Tool?” He explained how hydrogen is becoming a key player in future energy systems, though its applications are not limitless.
“Hydrogen is especially effective where electrification is impractical. It’s indispensable in the chemical and fertilizer industries, and it also has strong prospects in metallurgy and electronics,” said Dr. Stončius.
He discussed methods of hydrogen production, transportation, and its potential as a long-term energy reserve.
Dr. Miglė Jakučionytė-Skodienė, Head of Sustainability and Innovation at “Agrokoncernas,” delivered a talk titled “Carbon Credit Market: Solution or Illusion in the Context of Climate Change?” focusing on climate policy, corporate responsibility, and the role of carbon credits.
“Sustainability is not just a trend, but a strategic goal. As representatives of agribusiness, it’s our duty to take tangible actions against climate change,” she emphasized.
She presented the company’s carbon credit program aimed at building soil organic carbon through sustainable practices.
AI gives a competitive edge
Šarūnas Sadauskas, Head of the precision technology center “AgroTTC,” presented “AI in agriculture: from selection to On-field Decisions,” showing how advanced digital tech is transforming farming.
“AI enables data-driven precision instead of guesswork – allowing for greater efficiency and sustainability,” he noted.
He highlighted real applications of AI in agriculture – from developing new plant varieties and yield predictions to instant soil testing and autonomous machinery that helps optimize resources and increase farm returns.
Benas Jankūnas, Engineer at “AgroTTC,” lectured on “Autonomous Robots in Agriculture,” showing the rapid development of robotic farming technologies.
“Tracked autonomous tractors save time and fuel, protect the soil, reduce errors, and help farmers better plan their work,” he said.
Mindaugas Kavaliūnas, Product Manager at the same center, discussed drone use in precision agriculture, including mapping, targeted spraying, and interseeding.
“Using drones, we can reduce chemical usage by 50–70%, while increasing yield and lowering environmental impact,” he explained.
KTU community members actively engaged with the speakers, asking questions and joining discussions. Lecturers appreciated that the talks enriched academic content while highlighting the real-world challenges and opportunities faced by specialists in agriculture and sustainable energy.
