<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are assumed to be one of the key contributors to the country’s economic growth and social welfare. Thus, their internationalisation appears to be inevitable considering how globalisation processes have changed the rules of competition in recent decades. Smart and digitalised technologies (Internet of Things and Services, etc.) decentralise communication and provide the opportunities for new firms to overcome the barriers of geographical location and access international markets through co-creation business models and changes of the value chains. The paper aims at analysing and disclosing how the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) influences SME internationalisation. The present study is grounded on the research of extant scientific literature and assessment of experts. The research demonstrates that Industry 4.0 positively influences the internationalisation of SMEs on a number of dimensions. The recommendations for managers and policymakers how to foster internationalisation of SMEs are suggested.</p></abstract>

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are assumed to be one of the key contributors to the country’s economic growth and social welfare. Thus, their internationalisation appears to be inevitable considering how globalisation processes have changed the rules of competition in recent decades. Smart and digitalised technologies (Internet of Things and Services, etc.) decentralise communication and provide the opportunities for new firms to overcome the barriers of geographical location and access international markets through co-creation business models and changes of the value chains. The paper aims at analysing and disclosing how the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) influences SME internationalisation. The present study is grounded on the research of extant scientific literature and assessment of experts. The research demonstrates that Industry 4.0 positively influences the internationalisation of SMEs on a number of dimensions. The recommendations for managers and policymakers how to foster internationalisation of SMEs are suggested.

Industry 4.0 as the Driving Force of SME Internationalisation: A Case of Lithuania

Economics and Business

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are assumed to be one of the key contributors to the country’s economic growth and social welfare. Thus, their...

Industry 4.0 as the Driving Force of SME Internationalisation: A Case of Lithuania

Data publikacji: 26 lis 2019

Zakres stron: 192 - 206

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eb-2019-0014

Słowa kluczowe
Business Model, Industry 4.0., SME Internationalisation, Smart and Interconnected Technologies

© 2019 Kristina Kovaitė et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Industry 4.0 as the Driving Force of SME Internationalisation: A Case of Lithuania

Data publikacji: 26 lis 2019

Zakres stron: 192 - 206

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/eb-2019-0014

Słowa kluczoweBusiness Model, Industry 4.0., SME Internationalisation, Smart and Interconnected Technologies

© 2019 Kristina Kovaitė et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Słowa kluczowe
Business Model, Industry 4.0., SME Internationalisation, Smart and Interconnected Technologies