Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Finland are the world’s five most innovative nations. The results of the Global Innovation Index 2016 were released today at a press conference in the United Nations’ headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Global Innovation Index is calculated based on a nation’s innovation inputs and outputs. Innovation inputs include factors like human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication and business sophistication. Innovation outputs refer to knowledge and technology outputs, as well as creative outputs.
Switzerland has held the top position since 2011. The country stands out with a consistent high-level performance across all indicators. It ranks among the top 25 economies in all pillars and sub-pillars with the exception of only three sub-pillars: Business environment (31st), Education (32nd), and Information and Communication Technologies (39th). Switzerland’s high Innovation Efficiency Ratio (5th overall, and 1st among the Top 10) allows the country to benefit from its solid innovation capabilities and help transform its resources into high-level innovation outputs.
The GII is an annual survey collaboratively published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Cornell University in the United States, and the INSEAD Business School in France. This year’s edition focuses on the rising share of innovation carried out via global networks. The study looks at 128 economies worldwide, using 82 indicators to measure innovative capabilities.
Read more about innovation in Switzerland in our dedicated fact sheet.
