The Lithuanian research and studies are regulated by the Law on Research and Studies of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter – LR) approved by the LR Government on 30 April 2009. The Lithuanian policy of research and studies is made by the LR Seimas, the LR Government, the LR Ministry of Education, Science and Sports and other ministries according to the competence stipulated by the LR Law on Research and Studies, other laws and legislation. The Lithuanian policy of research and studies is implemented by the Research Council of Lithuania, the State Studies Foundation, the Council of Higher Education, the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education, the Government Strategic Analysis Centre, the Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures, the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, the institutions authorised by the LR Government, and LR Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, and other research and academic institutions according to the competence stipulated by the LR Law on Research and Studies, other laws and legislation.

Two ministries are responsible for the implementation of the strategic provisions of the innovation policy – LR Ministry of Economy and Innovation and LR Ministry of Education, Science and Sports. They coordinate the key European Union programmes of structural support for research and experimental development (hereinafter – R&D) and innovations.

In Lithuania, research and studies are conducted by 11 state higher education institutions (universities): General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, Kaunas University of Technology, Klaipėda University, Lithuanian Sports University, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius University, Vytautas Magnus University and 9 non-state state higher education institutions (universities): Branch of the University of Bialystok, ISM University of Management and Economics, LCC International University, Academy of Management and Business, European Humanities University, Vilnius University Business School, Telšiai Bishop Vincentas Borisevičius Priest Seminary and Vilnius Saint Joseph Seminary. In Lithuania, there are also 12 state and 10 private non university level higher education institutions – colleges.

The higher education university institutions have the autonomy, including their academic, administrative, economic, financial management activities based on the principle of self-government and academic freedom. The research centres of the universities are functioning in most of the higher education institutions (universities); they perform R&D activities complying with the university’s (academy’s) objectives and mission and provide the science base for the students’ studies, preparation of scientists and upskilling of teachers.

There are 5 integrated research, studies and business centres (valleys) in Lithuania : “Saulėtekis” and “Santara” in Vilnius, “Santaka” and “Nemunas” in Kaunas, ”Jūrinis” in Klaipėda; they aim to provide conditions for the development of new knowledge based on the highest-level research, strengthen and concentrate R&D intellectual potential, encourage the cooperation of scientists and other researchers at the national and international level.

The Research Council of Lithuania is an institution that performs an expert and advisory function in matters relating to the State Science and Studies Policy, and implements the policy according to its specialist competencies. The objectives of the activities of the Research Council of Lithuania are to provide proposals, conclusions and recommendations to the institutions that shape the State Science and Studies Policy in the fields of research and experimental development, research-based innovation, higher education and the training of scientists, as well as the formation and implementation of the policy. The aims are as follows: to create a favourable environment for scientific research and experimental development; to promote high-quality scientific research and experimental activities and to transfer the results of those activities to the public; to promote the integration of natural and legal persons from the Republic of Lithuania into the international research space; to organise and carry out the programmatic competitive funding of scientific research and experimental development activities, in accordance with the government or its authorised institution or the Lithuanian Science programmes or other measures approved by the council, and to carry out evaluations of the scientific research and experimental development and art activities of Lithuanian science and study institutions, doctoral students and research trainees in the fields of science and the arts, and to carry out evaluations of Lithuania‘s membership in the international scientific research infrastructure; to represent the Republic of Lithuania in the international scientific research infrastructure, on behalf of the Seimas or the government; and to promote cooperation between scientific/study institutions and business entities in the fields of scientific research and experimental development.

The Research Council of Lithuania regulations are approved by the Lithuanian government, who is also the owner of the rights and duties. The Research Council of Lithuania consists of the Board, Chairman, Humanities and Social Sciences Expert Committee, Natural and Technical Sciences Expert Committee, Science and Study Policy Expert Committee and the administration.

Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures is a public officer who examines the complaints and notifications regarding the potential violations of academic ethics and procedures. The Ombudsperson is appointed for a 5-year term of office by the LR Seimas at the proposal of LMT. The activities of the Ombudsperson are ensured by the Office of the Ombudsperson for Academic Ethics and Procedures

LR Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (hereinafter – ŠMSM) makes and implements the state policy for education, science, studies and sports. The Minister of Education, Science and Sports is accountable to the LR Seimas, LR President and directly subordinate to the Prime Minister. The Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology at the ŠMSM is responsible for the area of higher education; it is involved in making and implementation of the state policy in the areas of higher education studies and academic mobility, coordinates international cooperation in the area of higher education studies, participates in making and implementation of the state policy in the areas of research, technology and innovation, is involved in the coordination of the research, technology and innovation activities of the Lithuanian research and academic institutions.