Industrial Preconditions for Smart Specialization of Lithuania Regions

Abstract

The main focus of this article is on concept of smart specialisation. The analysis justifies the industrial structure of the state and its regions as one of the most important preconditions for smart specialization while choosing priority sectors to specialise. The importance of analyses of the industrial structure has been argued. The article aims at highlighting characteristics of Lithuania regions’ industrial structure as important preconditions for smart specialization. During the regional level analysis of selected industrial sectors (food, clothing, furniture, and rubber and plastic products) and their interfaces with directions of Lithuanian smart specialization strategy has been observed that, the same industry localized in a different regions have different characteristics (measured in terms of productivity, efficiency, value-added, a critical mass of companies, etc.). So the article concludes that the smart specialization strategy and its implementation in different regions would lead to different results by different priority sectors. This must be taken into an account in the preparation and implementation of smart specialization strategies at regional and state levels. The analysis of regional industrial structure allows to assess the challenges facing the industry sector operating in specific regions, thus creating preconditions for the solution of problems through smart specialization strategy for supporting innovation and scientific research. Based on the research of regional industrial structure the insights highlighting Lithuanian smart specialization directions are provided.