HIGH-TECH SECTOR IN LITHUANIA: PRESENT SITUATION AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

The scientifi c problem what systemic ties relate the high-tech sector with other elements of the socio-economic system, and which of these elements mostly hinder the development of this sector is analyzed in this paper. Authors seek to identify the high-tech sector as part of the country’s socio-economic system. The paper consists of four parts. The criteria, according to which individual areas of activity are ascribed to the high-tech sector, are analyzed in the fi rst part. There is stated that sectoral and product approaches to the reckoning of activity in the high-tech or other sector is poorly informative. So called horizontal approach is much more acceptable in the case of the search of scientifi c problem solution in this paper. It is tried to explain how high-tech sector affects individual elements of the country’s socio-economic system in the second part. Three main types of impact are marked out and discussed – stimulation of creativity, improvement of other sectors’ activity and stimulation of general socio-economic changes. The preconditions for the development of high-tech sector as part of the country’s socio-economic system are identifi ed in the third part. They are presented as the components of the value chain metaphor. Statistical data illustrating preconditions for development of the high-tech sector in Lithuania are presented and compared to those of other countries in the last part of the paper.