Vilnius continues to cement its reputation as one of Europe’s fastest-rising life sciences hubs. International publication Real FDI has named two major developments in the Lithuanian capital – Bio City and the Vilnius City Innovation Industrial Park – among the ten most attractive investment projects in Central and Eastern Europe.
According to Real FDI, Bio City and the Vilnius City Innovation Industrial Park stood out as exceptional examples of innovation-driven investment platforms. Their inclusion among the publication’s top ten projects reflects not only the ambition behind the developments themselves, but also Vilnius' growing position as a leading hub for high-value, future-oriented industries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas says the recognition further reinforces the city’s life sciences sector as one of the key engines of economic growth, generating highly skilled jobs and strengthening Vilnius’ international competitiveness.
“This is a strong international acknowledgment that Vilnius is already emerging as one of the region’s most important destinations for life sciences and innovation. The city is making targeted investments into an environment where high-value industries – from biotechnology to advanced manufacturing – can thrive. Projects like these create not only jobs and investment, but also long-term competitiveness for the city across Europe,” says V. Benkunskas.
Top 10 Recognition Backed by Major Investment
One of the recognised projects, Bio City, is a multi-phase biotechnology campus being developed by the Northway Group, led by Vladas Algirdas Bumelis. The project brings together research, experimental development, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing within a single ecosystem, with ambitions to become the largest biomanufacturing complex in Europe.
The project’s long-term value could reach up to €7 billion, while the fully developed campus is expected to create approximately 2,000–2,400 highly skilled jobs. “Bio City I” is already operational, the Gene Therapy Centre “Bio City II” opened in 2024, and “Bio City III” is currently focused on advanced biomanufacturing and solutions in cell, tissue, and organ engineering.
“Being named among the top investment projects in the CEE region confirms that the world recognises the strategic significance of Bio City. It is clear proof that Lithuania’s life sciences industry is highly regarded by international experts and investors and has enormous potential to drive long-term economic growth. Through private investment and determination, the Northway group is not simply constructing buildings – we are building a high-value ecosystem that delivers tangible returns for the country. Rather than speaking about the future, we are already turning it into reality and helping shape a new backbone for Lithuania’s economy,” says Prof. Vladas Algirdas Bumelis, founder and chairman of the board at Northway Group.
The Vilnius City Innovation Industrial Park, also included in the top ten, is being developed as a specialised infrastructure hub for Lithuanian and international companies establishing R&D centres, laboratories, and high-tech manufacturing facilities. The park currently spans 24 hectares, already attracting a growing cluster of life sciences companies, while an additional expansion of nearly 40 hectares in Liepkalnis was approved for autumn 2025.
“It is rewarding for the Vilnius City Innovation Industrial Park to enter its eighth year of operations with such recognition. From the very beginning, our goal has been to strengthen Vilnius’ attractiveness for high-value industries and create the best conditions in the Baltics for innovative businesses to grow. Today, as the park enters its second stage of development, we already have a compelling example – a rapidly transforming territory with a strong and growing cluster of life sciences leaders. We are seeing greater confidence from investors, bringing together unique experience, and we hope this recognition from Real FDI will send a clear signal to both Lithuanian and international companies that Vilnius offers an exceptional ecosystem for expansion,” says Gediminas Pauliukevičius, director of the park’s developer Northtown Vilnius.
Visibility Matters
According to Dovilė Aleksandravičienė, CEO of Go Vilnius, Real FDI is regarded within the international investment community as an important mark of quality, highlighting projects with genuine potential to attract capital and generate economic value. Projects selected for the ranking are introduced directly to targeted investors, significantly increasing both their visibility and their chances of entering active investment consideration.
“These recognitions primarily reflect the real growth of Vilnius’ life sciences and high-tech sectors. At the same time, they demonstrate how important it is – both for cities and businesses – to consistently build and maintain an international reputation. Cities and countries are competing intensely for global attention, which means the ability to remain visible, participate in international conversations, and clearly communicate one’s strengths has become an essential part of a competitive investment environment,” says D. Aleksandravičienė.