Lithuania is vying to become a major European tech hub, with governmental efforts to attract an internationally acclaimed startup accelerator to the country. In addition, a new €100 million private initiative has been announced to create what is touted as Europe’s largest tech campus, Tech Zity, situated in the heart of Lithuania’s capital Vilnius.
Tech Zity is set to open in 2024, with office space for 5,000 workers, auditoriums for meetings and events, and more. In addition, a key selling point will be its focus on hybrid working, with a 24/7 ethos supported by co-living spaces, restaurants and bars for out-of-work socializing.
At 55,000 square meters, Tech Zity would be nearly two-thirds bigger than Paris’s Station F. The project’s funding comes from several sources, with €30 million committed so far, and the search underway for an additional €70 million from various sources including banks and private investors.
Lithuania’s startup ecosystem currently employs around 18,000 people, with the new campus aimed at a diverse audience that fosters connections and drives the creation of new products. Tech Zity’s focus is designed to attract everyone, from individual freelancers who can work from cafes or other shared working spaces, to companies ranging from five to 300 employees.
The Tech Zity brand already exists across Lithuania, with four smaller hubs operational in the capital and surrounding areas including Tech Loft, mainly targeted at seed-stage startups; and Tech Arts, a hybrid co-working and events space.
The Tech Zity Vilnius site is located less than two miles from the city center, and just a 10-minute walk from the headquarters of Vinted and Nord Security, who recently moved into their new HQ in the new Cyber City complex. Tech Zity is not competing with Cyber City; instead, the aim is collaboration to turn this part of Vilnius into a Lithuanian Silicon Valley.
One of the main goals of the Tech Zity transformation is to upcycle much of the original materials on the old industrial site, from adapting old sewing machine parts for chairs and phone booths to repurposing old ventilation systems for boardroom tables and kitchen equipment. With plans for 70 to 80 co-living loft spaces above the offices, Tech Zity will serve the needs of companies operating within the project who receive guests, as well as those looking for short-term and long-term accommodation options.
