(09.10.2024) For 14 consecutive years, Switzerland has consistently ranked as the world’s most innovative economy. It retains its leading position, ahead of Sweden (2nd) and the United States (3rd), according to the 2024 Global Innovation Index by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The index is based on nearly 80 indicators, covering 133 economies, and includes metrics such as education spending, research and development (R&D) investment, access to credit, and the quality of scientific publications. With a score of 67.5, Switzerland outpaces Sweden (64.5) and the United States (62.4). Globally, Singapore ranks 4th and leads Asia in innovation, while the United Kingdom (5th) completes the top three in Europe.
Having moved from 12th to 11th place, China remains the only middle-income economy among the top 30 most innovative countries worldwide, edging closer to the "top 10." It is also one of the nations that has shown the most significant progress in innovation since 2013, alongside India, Indonesia, Iran, the Philippines, Turkey, Vietnam, and Morocco.
Globally, innovation saw a marked slowdown in 2023. The number of scientific publications dropped by 5%, and growth in R&D spending stagnated (with projections of around 3% for 2023). For the first time since 2009, international patent filings declined (-1.8%). Additionally, restrictive financial conditions continued to discourage venture capital investment (-39% in 2023).
Despite this, technological advancements remained generally strong in 2023, particularly in healthcare and computing. However, green technologies experienced a deceleration. While renewable energy prices continued to decline, the pace was slower than in previous years. Moreover, reducing the energy footprint of supercomputers remains a persistent challenge.
Last modification 09.10.2024
