Global Innovation Index

Methodology

The Global Innovation Index is computed by taking a simple average of the scores in two sub-indices (the Innovation Input Index and Innovation Output Index), which are composed of respectively five and two pillars. Each of those pillars describes an attribute of innovation and have to five indicators, and their score is calculated by the weighted average method.

Since its inception in 2007, the index has had its results analyzed by an increasing number of governments annually, which design policy responses to improve their performance. The index is mentioned in a resolution on science, technology and innovation for sustainable development adopted on 19 December 2019 by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Criticism

Several scholars have criticized the index for giving excessive significance attributed to factors that are not integral to innovation. For instance, "Ease of Paying Taxes", "Electricity Output" (half-weightage), and "Ease of Protecting Minority Investors" are factors alongside "Ease of Getting Credit" and "Venture Capital Deals." A 2024 study by Sarcina, Paolantonio, Valentini, and Iannone argued that the analysis of the GII pillars is "too aggregated to provide the necessary visibility of the determinants of innovation performance." The research found that indicators within a single pillar "contribute with different weights and have different statistical significance." The authors suggested that the model for calculating the ranking should be redefined to not only consider the "most statistically representative variables" but also to include "geographical, demographic, and socio-economic factors," noting that the importance of various innovation determinants likely differs between countries at different stages of development.

Themes

Every two years, the index covers a theme related to innovation that goes beyond the innovation rankings. In 2020, the theme was "Who will finance innovation?" and shed light on the state of innovation financing by investigating the evolution of existing mechanisms and by pointing to progress and remaining challenges. Previous themes covered topics such as health innovation, environmental innovation, and agricultural and food innovation.

2026 Ranking

The 2026 ranking was released on September 29 as part of the report titled Global Innovation Index 2026: Powering Entrepreneurs at the Frontier of Science. The ranking covered 139 economies and used around 80 indicators. According to estimates for that year, global R&D expenditure grew by more than 3.3% in real terms in 2025, and the estimation for 2026 is that it will expand by 3.6% to $3.4 trillion. The 2026 ranking was led by Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, South Korea, and Singapore.

2025 ranking

In 2025, for an economy to feature in the GII 2025, the minimum data coverage requirement is at least 35 indicators in the Innovation Input Sub-Index and 15 indicators in the Innovation Output Sub-Index, with scores for at least two sub-pillars per pillar. In the GII 2025, 139 economies had sufficient data available to be included in the Index. They represent 93.6 percent of the world's population. This year's conceptual framework includes 78 different indicators.

The Global Innovation Index 2025 scores 139 countries and regions.

• International Innovation Index
• Innovation Cluster Ranking