Data Pilot 2.0

Data Pilot 2.0 is a program for teams that want to test and validate health innovation ideas using real-world health data.

You will work on a real challenge proposed by industry, public sector partners and startups to deliver decision-ready evidence, something that can be used in reimbursement, investment, clinical decision-making or technology validation.

This program is for teams that are ready to prove impact with data.

Data Pilot 2.0 is a challenge-based program that helps teams use Lithuania’s national health data assets (the national data lake) to generate real-world evidence (RWE) and solve real clinical and system-level questions.

Why Is This Program Unique?

Health data is available in many countries, but the real bottleneck isn’t access – it’s the ability to turn data into credible evidence and decision-ready outputs.

Many teams get stuck between prototype and real-world implementation. At the same time, pharma, biotech, and public institutions face urgent questions that require strong analytics and proof.

Data Pilot 2.0 bridges this gap by creating a practical sandbox where teams can:

• work with real challenges provided by partners,
• use secondary health data responsibly and meaningfully,
• deliver evidence and validate a business model around it.

What You Will Achieve

The core goal of Data Pilot 2.0 is:

Increase the use of secondary health data for health innovations in the life sciences sector.

What success looks like:

Challenge owners receive an evidence-based answer to their question (not assumptions).

Teams deliver a real analytics output and validate a new service / business model with investment potential.

Program Structure

Data Pilot 2.0 does not follow a fixed weekly schedule. Instead, the program runs through clear milestones with ad hoc working meetings planned around each team’s challenge and progress.

What to expect:

• Challenge alignment & onboarding (scope, roles, working plan).
• Evidence protocol preparation (study design, methodology, feasibility).
• Data access & processing phase (dataset setup, variable mapping, coordination).
• Analysis & evidence generation (results, interpretation, decision-ready report).
• Optional trainings / expert consultations (organized based on team needs).
• Final pitches (challenge outcome + scalable business model / service validation).

Teams meet regularly with the program team and challenge owners to ensure progress, quality, and delivery.

Who can apply?

You can apply as:

• an individual
• a small team
• an early-stage startup

Team size: 1–5 people
Recommended team skills (as a group):

• health or biomedical research understanding
• epidemiology / outcomes research mindset (strong advantage)
• data analytics and statistics
• project management

If you are not from Lithuania — that’s fine. This program is open to international teams or individuals. Innovation Agency Lithuania will support collaboration with Lithuanian partners.

Selection Process (Multi-stage)

Selection to Data Pilot 2.0 is conducted in several steps. Applicants must meet the participant’s profile requirements and complete a short qualification task as a confirmation of readiness to join the program.

The selection includes: 

Step 1: Eligibility check (team composition and fit with the program scope)

Step: 2 (with selected candidates): Short screening interview (motivation, capacity, and challenge relevance) or/and

Qualification task (mandatory) — a brief assignment to demonstrate your ability to work with the challenge and translate it into an evidence-driven approach

Step 3: Final selection by the advisory board together with challenge owners

The qualification task is not designed to test “perfect answers” — it confirms that your team can work with the topic, structure the problem, and deliver within the program format.

Timeline 

• Team selection: Mar 2026
• Training & preparation: Mar-Apr 2026
• Protocol development: Apr-May 2026
• Data access phase: Jun–Oct 2026
• Data analysis & evidence report: Nov 2026 – Mar 2027
• Final presentations & review: Apr 2027

Challenges

Data Pilot 2.0 is challenge-based. Selected teams will choose and work on one out of 6 real-world challenges provided by industry and public-sector partners.

Applicants will be able to select their preferred challenge during the selection and onboarding phase.

Learn more about the challenges here.

Project Partners

State Data Agency , Novartis Baltics , State Food and Veterinary Service , Muuza , Vilimed

Communication & Dissemination Partners

EIT Health , Future Biomedicine Foundation