World Innovation Rankings Unveiled: Belarus' Position Revealed
In the latest UN Global Innovation Index (GII), Switzerland has once again claimed the top spot, a position it has held since 2011. Sweden and the United States follow in second and third place, respectively. However, the most notable change in this year's ranking is China's entry into the top ten, marking its first appearance in the prestigious list.
China's rise in the GII is a testament to its growing innovative potential. The country, which ranked 10th in the 2021 index, has shown significant improvements in innovation activity and patent applications. In fact, in 2024, China accounted for nearly a quarter of international patent applications.
The GII ranks global economies based on around 80 indicators, including but not limited to, education, infrastructure, and business sophistication. This year, the index includes 139 economies, with Belarus entering the list for the first time.
Unfortunately, Belarus's entry into the GII has been met with a decline in its ranking. The country, which ranked 64th in the 2020 GII, has dropped to 85th place this year. This decline is primarily due to a decrease in innovation investments. In terms of innovation investment, Belarus ranks 102nd this year, the same as its ranking last year. On the other hand, Belarus shows better results in innovation activity, ranking 70th this year, although this is lower than its 2024 ranking.
The prospects for global innovation are clouded by a decrease in investments, according to the GII authors. In fact, growth in research and development spending is expected to slow to 2.3% in 2025, which would be the lowest since 2010, following the financial crisis.
Notable changes in the top ten list include Germany being displaced by China as the European economy with the highest ranking in the GII. The other countries in the top ten, after the US and before China, in order of ranking, are South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
In conclusion, while Switzerland maintains its position at the top of the GII, China's entry into the top ten and Germany's displacement are significant changes that reflect the shifting global innovation landscape. The decline in innovation investments and the slow growth in research and development spending are concerns that the GII authors have highlighted, indicating a need for increased investment in innovation to maintain global competitiveness.
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