The multidimensional nature of competitiveness and the wide range of highly endogenous and interdependent factors that stimulate or on the contrary constrain it make the exercise of clarifying the notion of competitiveness one without a result applicable to all spheres of analysis. The paper aims to contribute to the dedicated literature of competitiveness analysis with a new perspective on performance in export markets by introducing in the framework the impact that the orientation towards research- development- innovation (RDI) activities can have on the performance of entrepreneurial environment. The article presents a comprehensive theoretical framework through a synthesis of different theoretical approaches to competitiveness and innovation in terms of their implications at sectoral and national level. The role played by innovation activities and positioning on the global value chains (LVA) in export performance are the guidelines of the present theoretical overview.