The First Gene Therapy Centre in the Baltics Opens in Vilnius

Lithuania’s goal to generate 5% of its GDP from biotechnology by 2030 is advancing with the creation of BIO CITY, set to become Europe’s largest life sciences and technology hub. 

On 26 September, the first gene therapy centre in the Baltics, Celltechna, officially opened within this hub. Celltechna will unite key biotechnology research and production areas, enhancing Lithuania’s position in the global biotech sector. The centre will offer advanced drug development and manufacturing services to pharmaceutical companies across Europe and the U.S. Built in just one year with a €50 million investment, it will focus on cutting-edge gene therapy research and component production. 

This opening marks the completion of the first building in phase two of the BIO CITY project, led by Northway Group. By 2030, BIO CITY will add five more complexes, including centres for R&D, virology, microbial and mammalian production, stem cell research, and 3D bioprinting. 

Spanning an area equal to 10 football fields, the entire BIO CITY complex will involve an estimated €7 billion investment over the next decade, contributing to Vilnius's rapid economic growth and solidifying its role as a leading hub in Lithuania’s 25%-growth life sciences sector.