„The stated number fluctuated around 233–273 employees. Accordingly, we need to meet that expectation,“ Monika Paulė, head of the Innovation Agency, told LRT radio on Monday.
„The founder expressed the expectation that the organization should return to the level it was at when it was established. At that time, it was certainly not about 300 employees, as there are now (currently 351 people work here – BNS),“ she said.
However, the head could not yet say exactly how many employees will leave the agency: „The news about layoffs came far too early.“
According to M. Paulė, after the organization was established in 2022, when three other institutions were merged into the Innovation Agency, it retained both previous and newly created functions: „The Resource Agency had a lot.“
Moreover, she said she still sees „some division“ within the agency.
„And naturally, to have a truly effective organization, (…) it must fully transform and become efficient to really carry out those activities that create the greatest added value for business,“ explained M. Paulė.
According to the head, some of the agency’s „routine functions“ can be digitized and entrusted to artificial intelligence while implementing the ministry’s task.
She noted that the agency now employs not only people with permanent contracts but also various project managers and other specialists.
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„The number of employees often inflates due to quite bureaucratic reasons,“ she added.
As BNS wrote, the ministry instructed the new head and board of the Innovation Agency to reduce administrative costs by about one-third and improve efficiency. Changes are being prepared based on the new agency activity strategy.
Deputy Minister of Economy and Innovation Paulius Petrauskas told BNS last week that although there is no exact calculation yet, the agency’s staff is planned to be reduced from about 350 to 280 positions – eliminating roles that do not create value for the economy and business but are an additional bureaucratic burden.
M. Paulė told BNS last week that to meet the goals and expectations set by the ministry for the institution, it is planned to optimize its activities, and changes will be felt this year.
The Innovation Agency was established by merging the innovative activities of the Science, Innovation and Technology Agency (MITA), the Lithuanian Business Support Agency (LVPA), and „Versli Lietuva“.
