THE INNOVATIVENESS OF SME ACTIVITY IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION IN LITHUANIA

Abstract

The future of the European Union members states (EU-27), including Lithuania, depends on education, including higher, employment in small and medium sized business (SME) and innovations. The practice shows that, small states are focusing on higher education on one hand and on SME on the other, seeking to increase entrepreneurship. Higher education directly effects knowledge-based economy, which impacts SME, increasing the competitiveness within the market and forcing to perform innovations. The importance of innovativeness of SME becomes more and more significant in all levels of analyze (micro, mezzo and macro) in country, in this case in Lithuania, and in the European Union level. The analysis of the questionnaires answered by executives – students of higher education – EMBA studying in the Institute of Business Strategy at Kaunas University of Technology allowed detecting study motives of the middle-aged executives, their position in the firm as well as their cooperation with other firms and the role of innovations.