54°41′43″N 25°15′33″E / 54.69528°N 25.25917°E / 54.69528; 25.25917

Kurk Lietuvai

Create Lithuania (English)
Headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania, 2023
Government agency overview
Formed	2012; 12 years ago (2012)
Jurisdiction	Lithuania
Headquarters	Vilnius, Lithuania.
Employees	20
Parent department	Invest Lithuania
Website	kurklt.lt
Agency ID	124013427 same as parent department
Map
54°41′43″N 25°15′33″E / 54.69528°N 25.25917°E / 54.69528; 25.25917

Kurk Lietuvai (in English: Create Lithuania), also known as KurkLT, ^{[1] [2]} is a strategic government initiative focused on fostering innovation and implementing best practices within the Lithuanian public sector. ^{[3] [4]} It is part of Invest Lithuania, country's foreign investment agency. ^{[5] [6]}

This is the only program of its kind in Lithuania with few equivalents abroad. ^[7] Multiple Lithuanian politicians have praised it for effectiveness and results. ^{[8] [9]} UN and UNESCO reports have identified Create Lithuania as a good example for other countries to follow. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

The program was created in 2012 as an attempt to establish a mechanism of innovation in Lithuanian public sector. In the early years of the program, it was co-financed by European Union. ^{[13] [14]} The program initially targeted young Lithuanian professionals with considerable foreign experience and attempted to attract them to Lithuania. ^{[15] [16] [17]} Many participants have been educated at primarily foreign universities, e.g. Cambridge, Oxford, Maastricht and others. ^[18]

During the first 6 years of its existence, the program successfully implemented 180 projects. During the first decade – about 300. ^[19] Since 2022, multiple projects were aimed at improving conditions for Ukrainian refugees ^[20] and rebuilding Ukraine post-war. ^{[21] [22]} Create Lithuania has contributed to the creation of Lithuanian deposit-refund system, ^[23] which became one of the most successful in Europe with higher than 90% return rate. ^[24] Lithuanian Startup Visa system was co-created by Create Lithuania and launched in 2017. ^[25] In 2019, 62 startups applied to relocate to Lithuania on Startup Visa, 18 of which were approved. ^[26] In its projects, Create Lithuania has also partnered with private companies, e.g. Google ^{[27] [28]} and Oxylabs. ^[29]

Create Lithuania reports have been frequently featured as sources in a variety of government documents, ^{[30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]} scholarly papers ^{[36] [37] [38] [39]} and PhD dissertations. ^[40] As of 2024, the program has received multiple awards, ^{[41] [42] [43] [44]} including Innovation in Politics Award ^{[45] [46]} and Reves Excellence. ^{[47] [48]} Multiple other projects have been nominated for Innovation in Politics awards. KurkLT projects have also won Project Management Institute awards for Lithuania's best public sector initiatives. ^[49]

Every year, the program selects about 20 participants for an annual work contracts that begin in September. ^[50] The program targets Lithuanian diaspora and Lithuanians with extensive experience abroad, but is open to everyone. Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Lithuanian embassies assist in recruiting the candidates. ^[51] Create Lithuania has had Lithuanians from all continents, also from countries not well known for Lithuanian diaspora like New Zealand, Mexico, China or Kenya. ^[52]

The program consists of two 6 month long projects in the Lithuanian public sector and its ministries and organizations. The projects are typically tailored to candidate's education, skills and interests. Therefore, there is a lot of variation in project areas – education, immigration, gender equality, finance, defense, business environment, city planning etc. ^{[53] [54] [55] [56] [57]}

In the past, KurkLT projects and their results have been presented to Lithuanian ministers, ^{[58] [59] [60] [61]} prime minister, ^[62] presidents, ^{[63] [64]} Government Chancellor and various heads of government institutions. ^[65]

Majority of former participants moved to Lithuania for the program and about 80% of them stay in Lithuania long-term. ^{[66] [67]} After the program, many take jobs in the public sector and former participants include multiple current or former deputy ministers, ^{[68] [69]} ministers, deputy mayors, ^{[70] [71]} heads of governmental institutions, ^{[72] [73] [74]} presidential advisers, ^{[75] [76]} multiple advisers to the prime minister, ^[77] members of Parliament and European commissioner. Notable former participants include MP Lukas Savickas, ^[78] author Unė Kaunaitė [ lt] ^[79] and European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius. ^{[80] [81]}

Other past participants went to the private sector, e.g. Google, ^{[82] [83]} Goodwin Procter, ^[84] SEB Group ^[85] and others. Several former members have received national order for merit awards. ^{[86] [87] [88] [89]} The program has an active alumni network for former members. ^[90] Alumni Network is active in Lithuanian society and has done projects with Rotary, Jaunimo linija [ lt], Lithuanian Food bank and others. ^[91]

• The Innovation in Politics Institute [ de]
• Invest Lithuania

• Official website
• Create Lithuania on Facebook
• Create Lithuania on X