EBRAINS Chief Science Officer Prof. Viktor Jirsa visited VMU

Vytautas Magnus University extended a warm welcome to Prof. Viktor Jirsa, Chief Science Officer of the European Neuroscience Research Infrastructures (EBRAINS), the Leader of the Neuroinformatics project “The Virtual Brain”, Director of the Institute of Systems Neuroscience, Aix-Marseille University, France.

On the 5th February 2025 prof. Viktor Jirsa met with the Rector Prof. Juozas Augutis, Vice-Rector for Communication Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vilma Bijeikienė, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics Prof. Tomas Krilavičius, and Prof. Aušra Saudargienė from the Faculty of Informatics, and discussed scientific activities in fundamental neuroscience and artificial intelligence, as well as the strategy for the expansion of EBRAINS in Lithuania.

EBRAINS is a leading digital research infrastructure that accelerates brain research in neuroscience, brain health, and neurotechnology. EBRAINS enables researchers to explore

complex brain functions, model neurological processes, and develop innovative treatments for brain disorders. It unites a global community of organizations, researchers, clinicians, and experts, integrating advanced neuroscience, brain simulation, big data analysis, high-performance computing, neurorobotics, and neurotechnologies to translate scientific breakthroughs into medical and industrial applications.

Prof. Aušra Saudargiene has been successfully collaborating with Prof. Viktor Jirsa in developing personalized digital brain twin models and utilizing EBRAINS The Virtual Brain methodology and artificial intelligence techniques. Together with EBRAINS she conducts scientific projects and organizes international scientific and educational events. The next upcoming world-class event organized in cooperation with EBRAINS is the 34th International Conference on Artificial Neural Networks (ICANN 2025), which will take place in Kaunas on 9-12 September 2025.

The visit of Prof. Viktor Jirsa strengthened the partnership between Vytautas Magnus University and EBRAINS, paving the way for new opportunities in neuroscience and artificial intelligence research in Lithuania and fostering greater interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.