Global Innovation Index Analysis

The technologies of the future are created and commercialized in innovation hubs that combine scientific excellence with entrepreneurial ambition. There are thousands of such hubs around the world, and our Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 seeks to shine a light on those doing well through the GII Ranking of World’s Top 100 Innovation Clusters. For the first time, we have included VC data alongside international patent filings and scientific publications. Adding the VC lens has shifted the top of the table slightly, helping to push China’s Greater Bay Area into number one spot, nudging the Tokyo-Yokohama cluster into second, and lifting Silicon Valley from sixth to third spot this year. Beijing was ranked fourth. Each of those clusters led in a different way. Tokyo-Yokohama was the single biggest source of international patent filings, while the Silicon Valley cluster (around San Jose and San Francisco) attracted more venture capital than anywhere else. Beijing led the world in terms of the number of scientific publications. The Greater Bay Area, which encompasses Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, did not lead in any of the three categories, but its strong showings across the board gave it a balanced profile and put it in first place overall. This cluster ranking, as well as our flagship Global Innovation Index (out on 16 September), is designed to help policymakers, business leaders and researchers better understand the local and global innovation landscape, and to design policies that make innovation ecosystems more vibrant. 33 economies are covered by our list of the top 100 clusters, including Germany (which has seven clusters), India and the United Kingdom (four each) and Canada and the Republic of Korea (which has three, like Japan). Propelled by the new methodology and strong performance in VC deals, Indian clusters have made remarkable advancements, with Bengaluru jumping from 56th to 21st position, Delhi to 26th (compared to 63rd) and Mumbai to 46th (compared to 88th). In addition to the dynamic hubs in China and India, six vibrant innovation hubs from middle-income countries also feature in the top 100: Brazil (São Paulo), Egypt (Cairo – the top-100 cluster in Africa), Iran (Tehran), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Türkiye (Istanbul) and Mexico (Mexico City) – which enters the top 100 this year for the first time and makes up the second innovation cluster within Latin America. Outside the top 100, some of the leading middle-income economy innovation clusters are Ankara (Türkiye), Bangkok (Thailand), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Islamabad and Lahore (Pakistan), and Rio De Janeiro and Porto Alegre (Brazil). These clusters show how the combination of strategic investments coupled with supportive policy frameworks can build thriving ecosystems. More: https://lnkd.in/e882jzRp #WIPO #GlobalInnovationIndex #GII2025

The most important skills today and in the next years will be human capabilities: critical and analytic thinking, resilience, leadership and influence, overlaid with technological literacy and AI skills to amplify these human capacities. World Economic Forum's new Future of Jobs Report provides a deep and broad analysis of the drivers of labour market transformation, the outlook for jobs and skills, and workforce strategies across industries and nations. It's a really worthwhile deep dive if you're interested in the topic (link in comments). Here are some of the highlights from the Skills section, which to my mind is at the heart of it. 🧠 Analytical Thinking Leads Core Skills. Skills like analytical thinking (70%), resilience (66%), and creative thinking (64%) top the list of core abilities for 2025. By 2030, the emphasis shifts even more towards AI and big data proficiency (85%), technological literacy (76%), and curiosity-driven lifelong learning (79%). This shift underscores the critical role of technology and adaptability in future workplaces. 📉 Skill Stability Declines but at a Slower Rate. Employers predict that 39% of workers' core skills will change by 2030, slightly lower than 44% in 2023. This reflects a stabilization in the pace of skill disruption due to increased emphasis on upskilling and reskilling programs. Half of the workforce now engages in training as part of long-term learning strategies compared to 41% in 2023, showcasing the growing adaptation to technological changes . 🌍 Economic Disparities in Skill Disruption. Middle-income economies anticipate higher skill disruption compared to high-income ones. This disparity highlights the uneven challenges of transitioning labor forces across global regions, particularly in economies still grappling with structural changes. 🚀 Tech-Savvy Skills in High Demand. The adoption of frontier technologies, including generative AI and machine learning, is increasing the demand for skills like big data analysis, cybersecurity, and technological literacy. These trends indicate that businesses are aligning workforce strategies to integrate these advancements effectively. 📚 Upskilling Is the Norm, Not the Exception. By 2030, 73% of organizations aim to prioritize workforce upskilling as a response to ongoing disruptions. This reflects a shift in corporate investment priorities towards human capital enhancement to maintain competitiveness.

HOW TO WRITE MANY RESEARCH PAPERS AS A YOUNG SCHOLAR. Writing multiple research papers as a young researcher involves a strategic approach to research, time management, and writing. Here are some tips to help you increase your research output: 1. Focus on Quality Over Quantity: Aim to produce research of high quality rather than focusing solely on the quantity of papers. For instance, instead of rushing to publish multiple papers with superficial content, invest time and effort in conducting thorough research and writing well-structured papers that contribute significantly to your field. 2. Develop a Research Plan: Create a detailed research plan outlining specific goals, objectives, and tasks. For example, if you're conducting a study on climate change, your plan may include tasks such as literature review, data collection, analysis, and paper writing, each with its own timeline and milestones. 3. Collaborate with Others: Collaborating with fellow researchers can enhance your research output. For instance, partnering with experts in related fields can bring diverse perspectives to your research, leading to more comprehensive papers and potentially more publications. 4. Write Regularly: Dedicate consistent time to writing, whether it's daily or weekly. For example, committing to writing for two hours every morning can help you make steady progress on multiple papers over time. 5. Read and Review: Stay abreast of the latest research in your field by regularly reading and reviewing relevant papers. For instance, attending journal clubs or seminars can expose you to cutting-edge research and inspire new ideas for your own papers. 6. Attend Workshops and Seminars: Participating in workshops and seminars can provide valuable insights into the writing and publication process. For example, attending a workshop on academic writing may offer tips on structuring papers and presenting research findings effectively. 7. Seek Feedback: Share your drafts with colleagues and mentors to receive constructive criticism. For example, asking a peer to review your manuscript can help identify areas for improvement before submission to a journal. 8. Learn to Handle Rejection: Understand that rejection is a normal part of the publication process. For example, if your paper is rejected from a journal, carefully review the reviewers' comments and use them to revise and strengthen your manuscript for resubmission elsewhere. 9. Publish in Various Formats: Consider different publication formats such as full-length articles, short communications, review papers, and conference proceedings. For example, presenting your findings at a conference can lead to networking opportunities and feedback from peers. 10. Manage Your Time Wisely: Utilize time management tools and techniques to prioritize tasks and avoid procrastination. See more in comment.

Recently, the European Commission published the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), providing a comparative assessment of the innovation performance of EU Member States, neighbouring European countries, and selected global competitors. EIS helps countries reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of their national innovation systems and identify challenges that need to be addressed.  The scoreboard is based on indicators covering economy, business and entrepreneurship, innovation profiles, governance and policy framework, employment, digitalisation, and more. Based on these indicators, EU countries are categorised in four innovation groups: 🔵Innovation leaders (performance is above 125% of the EU average): Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland. 🔵Strong innovators (between 100% and 125% of the EU average): Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany, France, Estonia.   🔵Moderate innovators (between 70% and 100% of the EU average): Malta, Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Lithuania, Czechia, Greece, Croatia.   🔵Emerging innovators (below 70% of the EU average): Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Other key findings: #EUInnovation performance increased by 12.6% since 2018. Over this period, all EU Member States have increased their innovation performance but on a different pace. For example, between 2024 and 2025, the national innovation performance increased in 13 Member States during this period, while declined in 14. At the same time, there’s no significant change to the EU innovation performance since 2024 – actually, there’s a slight decline of 0.4% Sweden regains its position as the most innovative EU country, ahead of Denmark which led the ranking from 2020 to 2024. Switzerland continues to be the most innovative country in Europe. South Korea remains the most innovative global competitor in 2025. Compared to last year, China has overtaken the EU and United States and is now sharing the second place with Canada.

🌍 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐩 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 2023 Based on extensive research and analysis from: ▶ 3.5 million startups ▶ 290 global ecosystems ▶ Over a decade of independent research + Experience in providing policy advice to 145+ clients in over 50 countries GSER provides valuable insights into the global startup landscape for entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders in the ecosystem. (link to the report is in the first comment) For my European network, here are the key updates: 𝐈𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧: #1 in Europe - it has the most companies valued at over $1 billion in the region. It has 83 exits of over $50 million including Wise, Deliveroo, and Revolut. 𝐈𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐧: #2 in Europe - the German capital minted 5 new unicorns in 2022. It also has exits of over $50 million with AUTO1-Group being the highest valued in a $9.2 billion IPO. 𝐈𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐦: #3 in Europe - thanks to an increase in exit count of over $50 million, in early-stage deal count, and in the number of unicorns. Banking platform Backbase is the most recent addition, valued at 2.7 billion. 𝐈𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬: #4 in Europe - the French capital increased its number of unicorns from 14 to 30, with Back Market the highest valued at $5.7 billion. 𝐈𝐧 𝐙𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡: The growth was spurred by the number of exits over $50 million increasing by 300% from the GSER 2022. The top-valued exit in the ecosystem was Sportradar’s 2021 $8 billion IPO. 𝐈𝐧 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚: #10 in the Emerging Ecosystems ranking - it experienced an increase in early-stage funding rounds, and a 100% increase in exits over $50 million. Looking at the longer term, Estonia has experienced a massive 439% increase in early-stage deal amount from 2018 to 2022 and 50% increase in early-stage deal count in the same period. More insightful data is in the slides below 👇 🚀 The top 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 ecosystem is Copenhagen 🚀 Happy to say my own base of operations is rising through the ranks. I’ve worked with many CEOs, Founders, and leaders in the city. I’ve seen the remarkable work they’re doing. Let’s keep it going! It’s exciting to be building in a space that highlights progress, growth, and innovation. How about you? 💭 What developments are you seeing in your city? Which country would you recommend for a startup? #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #CEO #founders Sorgenfrei - The guide on the side for Founders and CEOs globally. Follow me to learn why.

Germany invented the automobile. 🚗 But China just took the keys. 🔑 The 2025 Global Innovation Index is out: China cracks the top 10. Germany is out. 📉 The immediate response: "Of course China ranks high—it has 1.4 billion people and an $18.9 trillion economy compared to Germany's $4.7 trillion”. But here's what makes this milestone remarkable: WIPO's 78 indicators control for population and GDP. R&D spending is measured as a percentage of GDP, not absolute dollars. Researchers are counted per million people, not in total. Under these normalized metrics, China—a middle-income country—is outperforming nations with GDP per capita 3-4 times higher. Countries at China's income level typically rank in the 50s or 60s. China landed at #10. 🐲The "Fat Tech Dragon" Myth is Over The old narrative was simple: China innovates through brute force and massive spending. The new data reveals a leaner machine. China’s innovation output (patents, tech exports) is now surpassing its input scores (R&D spending). They are generating more bang for the innovation buck. How? Three structural shifts: 1️⃣Patent Power: World leader in annual patent filings. 2️⃣Cluster Dominance: Hosts more top global innovation clusters than any other country, with Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou now ranked #1 worldwide. 3️⃣Strategic Capital: Venture funding is strategically funneled into AI, semiconductors, and clean tech, not spread thin. Switzerland still ranks #1. Sweden #2. The U.S. #3. But China at #10 represents something unprecedented: proof that a middle-income economy can compete with wealthy Western nations on innovation efficiency, not just scale. Germany's displacement isn't about German decline—it filed more patents than ever. It's about China fundamentally improving how it converts resources into innovation output. The global innovation playbook is being rewritten. The assumption that high GDP per capita is a prerequisite for leadership is being challenged. The critical question: Is innovation becoming more democratic, or just more concentrated under state-led strategy? What’s your take? 💬 What’s the most underestimated driver of China’s innovation efficiency? _____ #innovation #China #Germany #technology #globalcompetition #ashleytalks

📝 🇺🇸 🇪🇺 🔎 Excited to see our new collaborative study on circular business models & circular economy policy in the U.S. and Europe published: https://lnkd.in/eddrsMh3 👉 🔍 💡 We investigate how policy in one jurisdiction might positively shape circular innovation in other jurisdictions that lack strong circular economy regulatory frameworks of their own 👉 🔍 💡 We specifically investigate the Brussels & California effects, known from previous work where positive policy spill-overs have been identified, because of more stringent environmental regulations in one jurisdiction compared to another 👉 🔍 💡 This new study shows us that there are various positive spillover effects driving circular innovations even where there is a lack of direct country legislation 👉 🔍 💡 Specifically, we found that U.S. companies are deeply influenced by both EU and Californian regulations in their circular innovation practices 👉 🔍 💡 Characteristics of the ‘typical’ U.S. consumer may call for specific circular business models, different from other contexts like Europe 👉 🔍 💡 Key barriers to circular innovation include the lack of a comprehensive policy framework in the U.S., opposition from competitors, and making novel circular business models work in the U.S. legal context 👉 🔍 💡 Strategies to overcome these include: getting legal support for circular business models, developing (local, regional) U.S. regulations, level the playing field for all U.S.-based companies, lobbying for supporting regulation, industry collaboration, and finding a good market fit for circular business models 👉 🔍 💡 Future research can build on this to further enhance our understanding on how policy might positively drive circular economy innovations in international companies affected by different jurisdictions Published today together with Matthew Coffay (Centre for Sustainable Business // CSB NHH) & Carl Dalhammar (IIIEE at Lund University) in Circular Economy and Sustainability - CIES (Springer journal): "The Brussels and California Effects? Circular Economy Policy Influence Across Borders". Circular X Maastricht Sustainability Institute European Research Council (ERC)

Indian drones just delivered food in Nepal where helicopters couldn't land and trucks couldn't reach. Last month at the South Asia Drone Forum, Skye Air delivered food and essentials in Kathmandu using their flagship drone. Far from being just another tech demo, this flight made history as Nepal's first commercial drone food delivery. This breakthrough addresses the unique logistics challenges that have plagued the Himalayan region for decades: ● Roads wash away during monsoons. In 2024 alone, floods and landslides in Nepal resulted in 224 deaths and 158 injuries ● Landslides block critical supply routes, affecting over 16,000 families during the 2021 Nepal monsoon ● Entire communities get cut off in winter, with delivery times slowed by up to 20 times compared to drone alternatives ● Emergency supplies face unpredictable delays, while drone deliveries can operate at 70% lower operational costs than traditional vehicles I've seen similar challenges in Northeast India. The mountainous terrain and seasonal flooding in states like Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh regularly cut off communities from essential supplies, sometimes for weeks at a time. The economics are compelling too. In terrain where a single truck delivery can cost ₹25,000+ and take up to a week, drone deliveries cost approximately ₹7,500 and arrive within hours. What's interesting is how Indian innovation is addressing these regional problems. Skye Air has already completed over 2 million deliveries across India. Now they're bringing that expertise across borders. This cross-border cooperation signals something bigger than that: 👉 India is becoming South Asia's drone innovation hub by creating faster, cheaper delivery networks that overcome natural barriers and save lives during emergencies. Consider how your business could incorporate aerial logistics to reach previously inaccessible markets. Which logistics problem could drones solve for you?

  WIPO Global Innovation Index 2025 – #Zürich anchors Switzerland’s innovation leadership – fueling a thriving Swiss AI & robotics ecosystem across Zürich, #Lausanne & #Geneva!   Live from Hong Kong Science Park: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has just released the Top 100 Global Innovation Clusters ranking, now based on patents, publications, and venture capital investments. Results here: https://lnkd.in/evjAcgKH 🇨🇭 Will Switzerland top the Global Innovation Index again in 2025? Here are the 2024 results https://lnkd.in/euxnBskw showing how Switzerland continues to punch above its weight – combining academic excellence, corporate R&D, and startups. For 2025, we shall find out on Sept 16, 2025 (https://lnkd.in/eG66K528) 🇨🇭 What we know today from World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO Ranking of World’s Top 100 Innovation Clusters https://lnkd.in/evjAcgKH: #Zürich remains Switzerland’s top cluster in the global Top 100 – ranked 14th worldwide by intensity (innovation output per population and 40th worldwide by size.  🇨🇭 Swiss startups are scaling globally: supported by growing VC flows, a new generation of companies in AI, robotics, biotech, and climate tech are pushing Switzerland onto the global stage of innovation. ✨ Highlights for Zürich    ~2,045 patent filings, 12,211 scientific publications, and 730 VC deals per million inhabitants (2019–2023).  Knowledge leaders: ETH Zürich, University of Zurich, Empa.  Top patenting actors: ETH Zürich, Sika Technology, IBM. 🇨🇭 Startups and scale-ups driving the boom: The below chart from the Greater Zurich Area highlights the thriving AI and software ecosystem in the area with the main player in AI co-locating in Zürich like OpenAI or NVIDIA start-ups like ANYbotics (robotics for industrial inspection), Sevensense Robotics (AI navigation for autonomous robots), NNAISENSE (deep learning & AI solutions), Daedalean AI (AI for autonomous aviation systems), Scandit (computer vision & smart data capture), InSphero (biotech & 3D cell culture) and others on the interface of medicine, transport, finance, neurotech, aviation and automation thriving.DealRoomm   🇨🇭The Swiss innovation triangle:  Together, Zürich, Lausanne, and Geneva form a European frontier-tech hub – world-class science, venture capital, and startups.   EPFLL (Lausanne): spearheading robotics, AI, quantum, and energy research with spinoffs like Flyability (drones for inspection) and Lunaphore (biotech diagnostics). Ville de Genèvee: vibrant in fintech (Temenos, Taurus), medtech (Distalmotion, Sophia Genetics), and cleantech, connected to international organizations and global investors, andGenolier Innovation Hubb.

What happens when 50+ Australian government agencies test generative AI? The answer: a mix of optimism, efficiency gains, and important lessons.   Last year the Australian Government wrapped up a six-month trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot across 50+ agencies - the first major public sector experiment with generative AI. This report explores its impact on productivity and key risks.   Here’s what they found:   --> Efficiency gains Many participants reported saving up to an hour per day on tasks like creating first drafts, summarising documents, and finding information quickly. IT staff and mid-level public servants experienced the biggest time savings.   --> Positive productivity impact 69% agreed that Copilot helped them complete tasks faster, and 40% said it allowed them to focus on higher-value activities like strategic planning and stakeholder engagement.   --> Moderate adoption While enthusiasm was high (77% optimistic about Copilot’s future), only 1 in 3 participants used it daily. 86% wished to continue using Copilot.   --> Training matters 75% of participants who received 3 or more forms of training were confident in their ability to use Copilot, 28 percentage points higher than those who received one form of training.   --> Barriers to adoption: Integration issues, security concerns, and a lack of AI prompt skills slowed adoption. Clear policies and communication are key to addressing security, accountability, and usage expectations.   --> Broader concerns: There are fears about the impact of generative AI on entry-level jobs, potential bias in AI outputs, and environmental consequences.   My Thoughts: ✅ AI drives impact, not just efficiency. The real gains from AI come when you shift from 'saving time' to 'driving impact'. Used well, tools like Copilot can free up employees to focus on high-value impactful work, like strategy, specialist expertise, and customer engagement. ✅ A clear strategy prevents AI chaos. Without a plan, AI adoption easily becomes fragmented. Focus on quick wins and high-impact use cases - identify pain points, blind spots, and bottlenecks, then leverage AI to solve them. ✅ Ongoing training = real ROI. One-time onboarding isn’t enough. If people don’t understand what the tool does, how it helps them, or how to use it, they won’t adopt it. Continuous learning builds confidence, sharpens skills, and ensures AI is used effectively and safely   Have you started using Copilot at work? What are you finding it most helpful for?   ⚛ I'm Sarah Mitchell, PhD, AIGP, founder of AI consultancy Anadyne IQ. Need help making Copilot work for you? We run practical workshops, design tailored use cases & e-learning modules, and offer ongoing support.