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Switzerland tops global innovation index — again

Malcolm Curtis
Malcolm Curtis - [email protected]
Switzerland tops global innovation index — again
Photo: WIPO

Switzerland remains the most innovative country on the planet for the third year in a row, according to a report issued on Monday by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

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The Global Innovation Index for 2013 ranked the Swiss first, unchanged from last year, followed by Sweden (also unchanged), the United Kingdom (up from fifth in 2012), the Netherlands (up from sixth) and the United States (up from tenth).

The index is produced by WIPO, Cornell University, INSEAD, and other partners.

The report concludes that “despite the economic crisis, innovation is alive and well”.

It said that R&D spending levels have surpassed 2008 levels in most countries.

The index looked at 142 economies around the world.

It uses 84 indicators, including the quality of top universities, availability of microfinance, and venture capital deals, to gauge both innovation capabilities and measurable results.

“Switzerland and Sweden’s performance reflects the fact that both countries are leaders in all components of the (index),” WIPO said in a news release.

The US, which bounced back into the top five for the first time since 2009, “continues to benefit from its strong education base (especially in terms of top-ranked universities), and has seen strong increases in software spending and employment in knowledge-based services.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined the authors of the report in presenting its findings to a “high-level segment” of the UN’s Economic and Social Council meeting that got under way in Geneva on Monday.

The meeting bringing together heads of state, ministers and heads of international agencies runs until Thursday.

For more information check the WIPO website

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