Darnių inovacijų laboratorija / Sustainable Innovations Laboratory

Purpose: This article aims to present a methodology for evaluating economic security within digitalized investment processes, addressing the evolving financial landscape's demands for innovative assessment approaches. Methods: The methodology developed integrates key components, indicators, and measurement techniques to offer a holistic evaluation of economic security. Case study countries are analyzed to identify common patterns, trends, and best practices, enriching the methodology's robustness. Results and discussion: The methodology provides valuable insights into maintaining economic security in digitalized investment environments, emphasizing factors such as legal and regulatory frameworks, technological infrastructure, data security, and investor protection. The analysis facilitates a nuanced understanding of economic security dynamics in digital transformation. Implications of the research: This research has significant implications for policymakers, researchers, and industry practitioners by offering a comprehensive tool to navigate the complexities of economic security in the digital era. It enables stakeholders to adapt effectively to digitalization challenges and opportunities, ensuring investor protection and financial system stability. Originality/value: This research contributes to the discourse on economic security and digital transformation by presenting a reliable and efficient evaluation methodology. It fills a critical gap in current methodologies, enhancing the ability of stakeholders to address the intricacies of digitalized investment processes and safeguard economic security.

Cryptocurrencies are digital assets that are used to store and protect savings. The study examined the cryptocurrency market and analyzed the development of investment. A methodology for researching the crypto-asset market is proposed. The main directions for forming a cryptocurrency portfolio (crypto portfolio) have been identified. Methods for forming an optimal "cryptocurrency portfolio"(hedging) have been studied, including risk assessment in the context of income from cryptocurrency and determining the relationship between profitability and volatility. Crypto assets with the "Proof-of-Work"principle (for example, Bitcoin) as a source of investment for environmental events are acceptable when attracting other financial instruments. The prerequisites for developing the cryptocurrency market as a source of investment in "green"projects have been determined.

The processes of economic, social and political globalisation have made tourism one of the leading sectors of the economy and a major economic activity and source of income in many countries. Tourism development encourages regions to compete with each other to attract more tourists, and regional competitiveness is inextricably linked to and has a direct impact on tourism growth. The aim of the study was to compare the views of tourism experts and consumers and to find common ground in assessing the competitiveness of tourism regions in terms of sustainability. Two quantitative surveys were conducted: tourism consumers and tourism experts. The results of the surveys are compared. The conclusions are reached: when comparing the opinions of consumers and tourism experts on the most important factors of sustainable development of the tourism sector, the opinions of consumers and tourism experts agree on such factors of the tourism sector as the accessibility of tourism, the creation of tourist routes accessible to all (people with disabilities). Comparing the opinions of consumers and tourism experts on the most important problems of sustainable development of the tourism sector and the most important activities for sustainable development of the tourism sector, the opinions of both consumers and tourism experts agree on the most important problems of the tourism sector: it would be the lack of knowledge about the nature and principles of sustainable tourism in local politics, underdeveloped infrastructure and economic problems: insufficient investments in sustainable tourism development.

Investment security in the development of the digital economy forms the basis for enhancing the digital competitiveness of European countries, ensuring the development of a pan-European data space, strengthening cybersecurity, stimulating the activity of underdeveloped economic sectors, and driving the digital transformation of public healthcare services.  Aim and tasks. The study aims to determine the strategic directions and challenges of enhancing investor support to establish favourable circumstances for the growth of the digital economy in European countries. Results. The advantages of the digital economy as a basis for further human development are identified. According to the analysis of the dynamics of the digital skills indicator, a trend of increasing individual digital skills among people in EU countries with four and five out of five indicator components was observed in 2023 compared to 2021 (an increase ranging from 0.57 to 1.64 percentage points). The leaders in the increase in Internet usage frequency are Romania, Belgium, and Montenegro, with increases of 19.98%, 18.29%, and 17.31%, respectively. The benefits of using digital technologies to enhance business competitiveness and the need to promote digital investment in regions with low levels of digitalisation, which consequently have low investment attractiveness, were identified. This will help counteract the imbalance of digital resources and data exchange, and form the potential for developing competitive digital advantages for European countries’ economies. Conclusions. Obstacles to digitalisation in European countries include an aging population, which contributes to a low level of skilled labour availability and disparities in the adoption of digital technologies. There is a need for continuous monitoring of the implementation of digital transitions in European countries. Digitalisation serves as the main driver of technological innovations and services, productivity growth in economic sectors, and reduced efforts in data analysis and decision-making. Investment security in the digital economy should promote the acceleration of digital transitions in regions with low-capacity levels. The rationality of investment decisions can expedite the development of digital infrastructure as the primary potential for the growth of less fficient industries on the path to sustainability.

This article presents a methodology that combines expert assessments and mathematical calculations to quantify the impact of external and internal threats on the energy security level of a state. The approach utilizes an energy security model to assess the impact of changes in integrated index components. Adaptive control methods are employed to decompose integrated indices and security indicators. The methodology incorporates indicators determining safe existence limits within security gradations and uses normalization techniques and dynamic weighting coefficients. It also formalizes the impact of threats on the integral index, constructs a new trajectory for goal achievement, and decomposes the dynamics into components and energy security indicators. The developed methodology aids in formulating management decisions to mitigate and eliminate threats to energy security, ensuring adaptability within the energy system and maintaining a trajectory of sustainable development. Through the country's Energy Sustainability Plan, this can be applied at various levels, from local to national.

The energy security of the EU is a current issue for all member countries. The EU’s energy policy aims for diversification of energy resources and energy independence. After 2022, this issue has worsened. The article analyzes the main risks to the energy security of EU countries and industries located in these countries. The dynamics of energy consumption by different sectors of the EU economy are considered and the impact of changes in the energy sector on the economic security of businesses is evaluated. Approaches to modeling the impact of transformations in the energy sector on the economic security of businesses are discussed. A simulation model of a three-sector energy market has been developed. The driver of changes in the model is the minimization of carbon emissions. Experiments were conducted to simulate the development of the energy market from 2012 to 2052. Digital modeling showed that in a case of “gas blackmail” the most probable scenario means increasing of dirty energy sources with high carbon emission.

This article examines the technological synergy of engineering, digitalization, nanotechnology, and intelligent digital marketing, focusing on its critical role in enhancing the economic security of corporate enterprises. In a rapidly evolving digital economy, leveraging technological innovations is essential for businesses to remain competitive and sustainable. This research specifically explores several applications of nanotechnology, including nano-enhanced materials that improve product performance, nanoscale sensors for real-time monitoring of production processes, and nano-coatings that provide durability and protection against environmental stressors. Moreover, it explores how savvy enterprise marketing strategies based on big data analytics and artificial intelligence can market to and empower consumers towards successful marketing campaigns to maximize commercial enterprise growth. By examining this homeostatic relationship in marketing and nanotechnology and addressing the mutual benefits of expediting engineering technologies, this study will highlight how integrating these systems can enhance the resilience of enterprises to economic fluctuations while boosting long-term viability. It reveals that finding new answers to technical change requires an expansive approach that integrates systems of engineering practice, nanotechnology, and digital marketing under a collaborative nexus toward building a more economically secure enterprise capability in today’s complex new market order.

This article delves into the role of digital transformation in bolstering economic security within investment processes, emphasizing the integration of environmental sustainability. It discusses theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches that illuminate how digital technologies can enhance investment practices while ensuring environmental responsibility. The authors emphasize that leveraging digital transformation can not only mitigate risks and vulnerabilities but also bolster efficiency and transparency in investment decision-making while promoting sustainable practices. Through a review of pertinent literature, the article scrutinizes the advantages of digitalization in realms such as data analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence, highlighting the dual benefits of economic security and environmental stewardship. The findings enrich the existing knowledge base on economic security and underscore the significance of embracing digital transformation infused with environmental sustainability in the investment arena. This article furnishes valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers navigating the evolving landscape of investment processes in an increasingly digitized and environmentally conscious world.

In the article, the author analyzes the attitude of consumers towards the sustainable development of the tourism sector in the Lithuania regions. The purpose of the research is to analyze the attitude of consumers towards the sustainable development of the tourism sector in the Lithuania regions. During the research, a quantitative survey (questionnaire survey) was conducted. Data collection methods - analysis of scientific literature and sources, document analysis, questionnaire survey. The article analyzes the consumers' attitude towards the sustainable development of the tourism sector from a theoretical point of view and presents the results of the conducted research. It is concluded that the respondents consider the following factors of sustainable development of the tourism sector to be the most important: development of ecological tourism; accessibility of tourism; creation of tourist routes accessible to all; certification of tourism services; development of the common national route and developmentof bicycle tourism infrastructure, etc. According to the respondents, the following problems of sustainable development of the tourism sector are usually encountered: economic problem: insufficient investments in the development of sustainable tourism; lack of knowledge about the essence and principles of sustainable tourism in local politics; underdeveloped tourism sector infrastructure, etc.

The author analyses the peculiarities of the behaviour of consumers of tourism services in terms of sustainability in Lithuanian regions. The aim of the study is to analyse the peculiarities of the behaviour of consumers of tourism services in terms of sustainability in Lithuanian regions. The objectives of the study are to carry out a theoretical analysis of the peculiarities of the behaviour of consumers of tourism services in terms of sustainability and to carry out a study of the peculiarities of the behaviour of consumers of tourism services in terms of sustainability in Lithuanian regions. The paper analyses theoretical aspects of the behaviour of consumers of tourism services in terms of sustainability and presents the results of the research. It concludes that the behaviour of respondents in Lithuanian regions in terms of sustainability while travelling is still in the process of formation. Most respondents try to consume responsibly when travelling, do not litter or collect their own waste, but only sometimes choose environmentally friendly/certified accommodation and environmentally friendly ways of travelling. Most respondents take recommendations from friends/colleagues/acquaintances, consume responsibly when travelling and care about the environment. The most important experiences for travellers during their trip are related to nature, culture, gastronomy, etc.