14 November, KTU Santaka Valley
We are delighted to share highlights from the ninth — and final — meeting of the Lithuanian GRASS CEILING Women Innovators Living Lab, held under the theme EMPOWER. This closing session marked not only the culmination of a three-year journey but also a celebration of women’s innovation, courage, and community in agriculture.
At each Living Lab meeting they learned, exchanged, experimented, and grew together. This final gathering was no exception.
The members of the LCSS GRASS CEILING research team took part in the meeting: Tomas Baležentis (team leader), Dalia Štreimikienė, Justas Štreimikis, Vaida Šapolaitė, and Vida Dabkienė.
The meeting programme included inspiring presentations from:
• Vida Dabkienė, LCSS, academic co-lead – From Idea to Change: Living Lab experiences in fostering innovation in Lithuanian women-led farms
• Vaida Šapolaitė, LCSS researcher – Introducing the GRASS CEILING MOOC: Open online training programme
• Tomas Karpavičius, business angel, professional board member, and innovation ecosystem expert with strong engagement in academic activities – From start-ups to system transformation: the role of business in innovation ecosystems
• Renata Rudnicka, practical co-lead, AgriFood Lithuania DIH – Activities, new projects and opportunities for collaboration
• Erika Ribašauskienė, LCSS researcher – Towards the Smart Village
This journey would not have been possible without the incredible women who took part in the Lithuanian Living Lab. We warmly thank:
Karališka Uoga, Daiva Šinkevičienė, Šeimos ūkis „Geltoni botai“, Ina Grecka, Bačkonių ekologinis ūkis, Rasa Prusakova, 50 Arų. Darbo ir džiaugsmo, Eglė Valuckaitė-Stašauskienė, Saldūs žiedai, Justė Jankauskienė, Gurkė, Justina Kočetova, Rūta Aliukonienė, Lina Vyšniauskaitė, Aliejus – sveikatai ir grožiui.
Your courage, ideas, honesty, creativity, and commitment shaped this Living Lab into a true space of empowerment.
Throughout the GRASS CEILING project, the Lithuanian Living Lab has become a space where women farmers build confidence, gain new knowledge, experiment with innovations, find allies and mentors, and discover new pathways for their businesses and communities. The experiences gained have expanded skills and knowledge, strengthened trust, and opened new directions for the future.
Empowerment grows where people meet, learn, share, and dare together. And this Living Lab became exactly that.
