Global Innovation Index (GII), 2025

Why in news?

India  rises to 38^th position in Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025.

• The GII 2025 is the 18^th edition, measures innovation performance across around 140 economies and unveils the world’s top 100 innovation clusters.
• Published by - World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in partnership with the Portulans Institute.
• It tracks global innovation trends through investment patterns, technological progress, adoption rates, and socioeconomic impacts.
• It provides a useful resource for government, industry, researchers and anyone with a stake in developing innovation ecosystems around the world.
• Findings of GII 2025 –
• The Global innovation systems are undergoing a shift, while cutting-edge technologies in AI and quantum computing are advancing rapidly, R&D growth has slowed down.
• Europe leads as the most innovative region, with 15 countries in the global top 25, including six in the top 10.
• Meanwhile, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania (SEAO) continue to emerge as global innovation hubs, with six economies in the top 25.
• Top 10 Most Innovative Countries in the World 2025 -

• Rising economies - Several middle-income economies continued their upward climb in the rankings, including China, India, Türkiye, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
• Innovation clusters - China leads the world with 24 of the top 100 innovation clusters, followed by the United States with 22.
• The top cluster is Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou, surpassing Tokyo–Yokohama due to strong venture capital activity.

The Top 100 clusters together account for around 70% of global patent filings and venture capital activity, underlining their central role in shaping the future of innovation.

• Investment slowdown - The report noted a deceleration in innovation investment.
• Global R&D growth slowed in 2024 to 2.9%, the lowest since 2010, with a further slowdown projected for 2025.
• India's performance -
• Ranking - India rose to 38^th place among 139 economies, a significant improvement from its 48^th rank in 2020 and 81st in 2015.
• Top performer - India secured the no.1 spot among lower-middle-income economies and in the Central and Southern Asia region.
• Strengths - The country performed well in Knowledge & Technology Outputs (ranked 22nd) and Market Sophistication (ranked 38th).
• Areas for improvement - India's lowest rankings were in Business Sophistication, Infrastructure and Institutions.
• Innovation clusters - India has four clusters ranked in the top 100 - Bengaluru (21st), Delhi (26th), Mumbai (46th), and Chennai (84th).

References

1. Indian Express | Global Innovation Index 2025
2. WIPO | Global Innovation Index 2025