At the very beginning of this overview I want with satisfaction say that to my opinion Lithuanian researchers managed fully exploit possibilities of 5FP and prepare enough proposals with high evaluation marks. For now (August 30, 2002) we have information about 186 successful projects submitted during 5FP with participation of Lithuanian partners and through these contracts we expect 14.9 MEuros contracts for Lithuanian organizations. Lithuanian participation fee in 5FP was 12.067 MEuros from which 4.124 MEuros was paid from PHARE money. Latest news indicates that during contract negotiation stade it can be expected reduction of the level of contracts for Lithuanian organizations up to 0.7-0.9 MEuros, nevertheless overall picture is not very bad as it can be expected in the middle of the 5FP. Especially successful were 5FP calls during the years 2001-2002 during which Lithuania gained it's slippage in comparing with payments to the programme. What causes such unexpected success in comparing with the years 1999-2000? Tendencies of the submitting proposals during these years clearly indicated that Lithuania reached it's limits of participation and submission of the proposals with Lithuanian participation can only slide down. Nevertheless during the year 2001 Lithuania almost doubled number of submitted proposals, and what was even more encouraging - almost three times more proposals were successful. There were few reasons for this success and I will try to point tree of them having main impact on this matter:

1. The year 2001 was the year of special Commission measures to raise participation in 5FP of Candidate countries (so called calls NAS1 and NAS2). Lithuania was very active in these calls and quite successful.
2. During the year 2001 were implemented measures on national level (under the initiative of Department of Science and Higher Education) for promoting participation of Lithuanian R&D institutions in 5FP. Results of the institution participation in 5FP were integrated in to the scheme of the indicators for obtaining state subsidy. In 2001 approved by the Minister of Education and science "Programme for promotion of scientific excellence and integration of the R&D entities into the European Research Area" also had strong impact on R&D institutions in participation in 5FP. All these governmental initiatives proved to individual researchers that participation in 5FP is not only their individual interest but also have support from state organizations.
3. As third obvious reason for improving Lithuanian participation in 5FP can be mentioned reorganization of our NCP system. In accordance with indications for establishing NCP systems in candidate countries in 1999 Lithuanian NCP system was established on the basis of LIC and STP organizations - participants of FEMIRC project. At the end of 2000 it was clear that this model cannot cope with raising problems. Therefore it was reorganized on the basis of German NCP experience using distributed among RTD organizations NCP network. In to the NCP network were included specialists from Vilnius University, Institute of Ecology, Institute of Biochemistry and Semiconductor Physics Institute. Additionally was introduced network of local advisers covering Lithuanian RTD system.

The most active institutions in 5FP are our main universities: Vilnius University, Kaunas University of Technology and Vilnius Gediminas technical University. Among research centers can be indicated Lithuanian Energy institute, Institute of Ecology and Institute of Biotechnology.

On the other hand it is clear that involvement of SME and industry sector in 5FP was weak point in Lithuaniana participation in 5FP. Comparing with statistics of distribution of participation form Business sector and R&D institutions in EU countries Lithuanian is far behind them with SME and industry participation only in 12 % of the funded 5FP projects comparing with up to 50 % in EU countries. Lithuanian SMEs became more active at the end of 5FP and it must be pointed out that it was influenced by involvement professional advisers for project preparation from LIC, STP and other EU countries.

One more point of interest about participation in 5FP can be distribution of the projects with Lithuanian participation according to the type of the project.

With dominating research community in Lithuanian participation in 5FP it is obvious result that research projects are dominating in overall numbers. Another good indication is that thematic networks also covers big part of the Lithuanian projects. I hope that on the basis of this newly established collaboration will be developed new research projects of European dimension.

Finalizing this short overview I want to express my optimism that through participation in 5FP Lithuanian researchers successfully prepared for the 6FP and will participate in development of the European Research Area with even more success.