The index was started in 2007 by INSEAD and World Business,[1]: 203 a British magazine. It was created by Soumitra Dutta.[4]
Methodology
The 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 five and two pillars respectively. Each of these pillars describe an attribute of innovation, and comprise up to five indicators, and their score is calculated by the weighted average method.[5]
Since its inception in 2007, an increasing number of governments systematically analyze their annual GII results and design policy responses to improve their performance.[6][7][8][9][10] 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.[11]
The index has been criticized for giving excessive significance attributed to factors that aren’t 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“.[12]
Themes
Every two years the GII covers a theme related to innovation which goes beyond the innovation rankings. In 2020, the theme was “Who will finance innovation?” shedding light on the state of innovation financing by investigating the evolution of existing mechanisms and pointing to progress and remaining challenges. Previous GII themes covered health innovation, environmental innovation, agricultural and food innovation, and others.[13]
Ranking
Movement in the Global Innovation Index top 10 countries and territories between 2018 and 2022
The Global Innovation Index 2024 (GII) scores 133 countries and regions.[14][15] Sorting is in descending order by score.
^In July 2021, the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters under the Prime Minister's Office in Japan decided on the Intellectual Property Promotion Plan 2021, setting forth a plan of annual action related to intellectual property for all ministries and agencies. In the first part of the plan, WIPO's GII is cited (p.5):https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/titeki2/kettei/chizaikeikaku20210713.pdf
^The GII is also cited throughout the official Malaysian Government report, the Twelfth Malaysia Plan (RMK12): https://rmke12.epu.gov.my/en.
