In 2020, 85% of Lithuanian population is expected to use the internet.
"I am confident that the implementation of updated program will lead to a faster development of Lithuanian information society. In order to achieve this, we will have to overcome a lot of challenges. Currently, there are several high priority objectives such as to encourage people to become smart users of ICT and the internet, upgrade and develop public sector ICT infrastructure and create technologically advanced e-services. In addition, it is equally important to narrow the demand-supply gap for Information and Communication Technology professionals," said Minister of Transport and Communications Rimantas Sinkevicius.
According to the Minister, in order to use Information and Communication technologies (ICT) more, population should be, firstly, introduced with the opportunities provided by ICT and e-services. Additionally, digital literacy needs to be increased by creating favourable conditions to acquire the necessary knowledge and to apply it, especially for those Lithuanian groups that have never used computers and the internet.
The intention is to reduce the number of people that do not use the internet from 33.5% (2013) to 10% in 2020. It is expected that the number of people from socially vulnerable groups that uses the internet regularly will increase from 42% to 74%. The number of people with average and higher Internet usage skills is expected to increase from 59% to 95%.
The program also aims to promote the use of ICT for business development, foster Lithuanian language and cultural heritage, ensure the development of ICT infrastructure, its protection. It also aims to protect residents of Lithuania and their personal data and privacy in the internet.
Statistics Lithuania informs that an annual publication Development of Innovation Activity 2012 has been released.
The publication presents the main innovation statistics for 2010–2012. The main topics of the publication – innovation activities in Lithuania, innovation expenditure, kind of innovation by economic activity and enterprise size class. Statistical information is presented at the national and county levels.
According to the survey data, in 2010–2012, against 2008–2010, the proportion of innovative enterprises decreased by 2.5%age points (to 30% of the total number of enterprises).
In 2010–2012, small enterprises (10–49 employees) accounted for the largest proportion of innovative enterprises – 67.8%, medium-sized enterprises (50–249 employees) – 25.8%, while large enterprises (250 and more employees) accounted for the smallest proportion (6.7%).
The proportion of innovative enterprises was the largest among information and communication (60.4%) and financial and insurance (50.8%), the smallest – among construction (18.7%) and transportation and storage (18.6%) enterprises.
Based on the 2010–2012 survey data, the turnover of innovative enterprises made up 63.4% of the turnover of all enterprises.
