Abstract: The unprecedented spread of information and communication technologies (ICT) is a defining process in the formation of the Smart-economy, radically changing the technological basis and the entire system of economic relations in society. The colossal acceleration of all transactions transforms all interactions, mechanisms and tools for the implementation of economic activity. Under the influence of increasing attention to environmental and social issues, new technologies are already required to intelligently manage all related processes. The dependence of socio-economic development of countries not so much on resources as on technological, innovative factors determines the special relevance of digitalization processes for each country. International organizations pay great attention to the analysis of the spread of digitalization processes at the level of individual countries, regions, and the global level.

The analysis revealed the following trends: the consumption of fixed telephones is declining in the countries of the world, the number of mobile and Internet users is growing rapidly, the number of households with computers and home access to the Internet is growing. At the same time, there are still large disparities in the world regarding access to modern ICT. Ukraine ranks middle among the world’s countries in terms of Internet and mobile coverage, but lags behind in terms of higher quality services.

The spread of ICT in global trade flows is clearly observed in the structure of production, the structure of world trade, the growing share of knowledge-intensive products. The share of knowledge-intensive and high-technological products is the most important in trade in goods and accounts for almost a third of world GDP. The highest share (15 % of GDP) has commercial science-intensive services — business, financial and information.

Science-intensive sectors such as education and health care rank second (9 % of GDP).

The intellectually intensive sectors of the economy from 2018 also include medium and high-tech industries (vehicles, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, excluding pharmaceuticals, railway and other transport equipment), which account for 4 % of GDP.

High-tech industries — aircraft and spacecraft; communications; computers; pharmaceuticals; semiconductors; instruments for testing, measurement and control — have a share of 2 %.

At the global level, there is a question of the need to accelerate digital innovation ecosystems in order to ensure digital transformation. ITU research has shown that the innovation gap between countries is based on the digital divide. That is why the main goals are to strengthen the capacity of countries to integrate ICT innovation into their national development programs and promote a culture of innovation.