The conference “Digital Construction 2025. Vilnius,” held on May 7, once again proved its significance as the leading digital construction and BIM forum in the Baltic States. The event gathered several hundred participants and presented concrete proposals and insights on how to accelerate the building permit process in Lithuania through digital technologies.
Focus on the eConstruction Permit Concept and buildingSMART Solutions
This year’s theme — “From Specification to eConstruction Permit: Changes and Opportunities” — focused on the concept of the eConstruction permit and its potential integration into national legislation and practical processes. Particular attention was given to the ePermitting model developed by buildingSMART, which could fundamentally transform how construction documentation is reviewed and approved.
“Following changes in legal regulation in Lithuania, a construction permit is issued only once the design proposals are approved. Is it possible to digitalise the construction permitting procedures, and what prerequisites are needed to implement the ePermitting concept developed by buildingSMART? — these were the questions we addressed at this year’s conference. I believe the insights shared by speakers will help institutions find answers to important conceptual issues,”
said Dalius Gedvilas, President of the Lithuanian Builders Association and Director of Skaitmeninė statyba.
Core Theme of Discussions – Cooperation Between State and Business
A highlight of the event was the panel discussion “A Digital, BIM‑Based Construction Permit Process: Mission Possible?”, moderated by Dainius Radzevičius, Chairman of the Lithuanian Journalists’ Union.
Participants included:
- Aleksandra Černiauskienė, Acting Head of the Construction Sector Development Agency (SSVA)
- Dalius Gedvilas
- Laura Kairienė, Chief Architect of Vilnius City
- Žygimantas Pagalys, Advisor to the Chief Architect
- Algimantas Pliučas, Head of the Chamber of Architects
- Frode Eek, Director of Digital Services Development, Norwegian Directorate of Building Quality
SSVA’s Acting Head A. Černiauskienė emphasised:
“Digitalisation and simplification of processes are among our and the Minister of Environment’s top priorities. After assuming responsibility for territorial planning systems, we began analysing their processes. We identified opportunities to digitalise and automate these procedures, aiming to reduce human involvement — particularly in project review, documentation verification, and data checking.”
The discussion explored whether BIM‑based solutions could support automated permitting, reduce human error, decrease administrative burden, and increase transparency for both businesses and public institutions. Participants also addressed the need to build a culture of trust and create efficient data flows between systems and institutions.
A prominent example was Norway’s ePermitting model, which has significantly simplified the permitting process while improving service accessibility.
Experts agreed that Lithuania must prepare not only technologically but also strategically: redesign process logic, embrace automation, and strengthen intersectoral trust.
“A digital system must become a real decision‑making tool, not merely a formal transfer of processes into a digital platform,”
noted D. Gedvilas.
Implementing a comprehensive digital transformation would allow Lithuania to reduce both the time and cost of issuing construction permits and take a substantial step toward modern, data‑driven construction.
International Best Practices
The conference also featured a well‑received analytical presentation by Mindaugas Pakalnis, representing the Construction Sector Development Agency. Known for his professional and insightful analyses, Pakalnis once again delivered a presentation that drew significant interest.
International experts shared best practices, including:
- Jugal Makwana (Autodesk) on the importance of data and standards in the construction sector entering the era of artificial intelligence
- Charlie‑Boon Bellinaso (Luxembourg Construction Technology and Innovation Centre) on implementing eConstruction permit systems in Luxembourg
- Frode Eek (Norway) on the successful implementation of Norway’s ePermitting system
- Annina Kukkola (SitoWise, Finland) on the application of BIM in landscape projects and early design stages
As every year, the conference also announced the winners of the “Lithuanian BIM Projects 2025” competition, covering residential, public, infrastructure, and international project categories.
Conference Conclusion
The event concluded with a session moderated by Aidas Meškėnas, Vice‑Rector for Strategic Partnerships at VILNIUS TECH, who invited participants to reflect on the main insights and consider the next steps.
Organised by the Lithuanian Builders Association and Skaitmeninė statyba, the conference took place online, enabling participation from both Lithuanian and international experts. Now in its fifteenth year, the event continues to strengthen its role as the key platform shaping the culture of advanced, digitalised construction in Lithuania.
