Global Innovation Index 2025, Key Highlights and India’s Performance

Context: The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) released the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025.

Global Innovation Index 2025 – Key Highlights

Global Trends

• R&D Growth Decline: Slowed to 2.9% in 2024 and projected to fall further to 2.3% in 2025, the lowest since the 2010 financial crisis.
• Tech Shift: Despite the slowdown, rapid advances in AI, quantum computing, and innovation clusters are driving global competitiveness.

Top Global Performers (2025)

• #1 Switzerland – retains top spot.
• #2 Sweden, #3 United States – strong in high-tech R&D and innovation ecosystems.
• #4 Republic of Korea, #5 Singapore – lead in Asia-Pacific innovation.
• China (#10): enters Top 10, ranked #2 globally in R&D expenditure and world leader in patent filings.

India’s Performance

• Overall Rank: #38 (up from #48 in 2020).
• Regional Leader: #1 in Central & Southern Asia.
• Income Group Leader: #1 among lower-middle-income economies.

Strengths

• Knowledge & Technology Outputs: #22
• Market Sophistication: #38

Weaknesses

• Business Sophistication: #64
• Infrastructure: #61
• Institutions: #58

Sharing is caring!