In 2023 March 29thaAt the meeting of the VU Law Favulty Council, a new scientific thematic group (STG) “Digital Technologies in Modern Private Law” was approved (head Prof. Habil. Dr. Vytautas Nekrošius). During the same meeting, a science center named “Administrative Law and Administrative Justice” was established (head Prof. Dr. Jurgita Paužaitė-Kulvinskienė).
STG “Digital Technologies in Modern Private Law” was established in consideration of rapid technological changes and the challenges they pose. Together with digital technologies, threats to fundamental values and cyber crimes are forming. On the other hand, the same technologies can be a great tool to fight against law violations in the electronic space and ensure cyber security. During this period, legal science and scientists must dynamically adapt to evolving technologies and develop a fundamental understanding of their operation. Therefore, the aim of this STG is to promote interdisciplinary scientific activities in the field of interactions between private law and digital technologies, applying innovative research methods.
When deciding what the direction of STG’s activities should be, it was envisaged that international and national interdisciplinary research arising from the interaction of private law and digital technologies would be carried out through the cooperation of lawyers, data scientists and engineers.
A new science center “Administrative Law and Administrative Justice” was established in view of the new challenges faced by the administrative system. Too slowly growing public trust in governmental and judicial institutions and state management procedures, doubts about the expediency or effectiveness of the decisions taken are some of the reasons that encourage to undertake scientific research that would evaluate changes in the institutional structures of state management, the definition of their competences and functions, public management technologies and processes, dispute resolution models with the state, public management e-systems.
The results of research conducted by this science center should be used in legislation and strengthen democracy. Research results will be presented to policy makers and thus scientific insights will be included in the decision-making process for creating a more harmonious, resilient, inclusive and democratic society, increasing social, economic and political resilience, competitiveness and sustainability, strengthening identity, historical memory and civil society.