WIPO Global Innovation Index 2021 Highlights China’s Rise Toward Top 10 Innovation Leaders

On September 20, 2021, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2021, an annual ranking that assesses the innovation ecosystem performance of economies worldwide. The report identifies global innovation trends, strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in innovation metrics.

Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, and the United Kingdom continue to dominate the top five positions, maintaining their consistent presence in the leading ranks over the past three years. Notably, the Republic of Korea entered the top five for the first time in 2021, reflecting its advancing innovation capabilities.

Among Asian economies, four countries feature prominently in the top 15: Singapore (8th), China (12th), Japan (13th), and Hong Kong, China (14th). China improved its ranking by two places from 14th in the previous year, signaling a steady ascent toward the top 10.

Since 2013, China has demonstrated consistent and steady progress in the GII rankings, establishing itself as a global innovation leader. The country’s innovation output is particularly strong. For example, China’s patent filings by origin, when scaled by GDP, surpass those of Japan, Germany, and the United States. In absolute terms, China’s patent volumes are even more impressive. Similarly, China leads in trademarks and industrial designs by origin as a percentage of GDP.

Despite these achievements, China remains behind Germany and the United States in areas such as human capital and research. Specific indicators highlight this gap: China ranks 45th in Researchers and 57th in Tertiary enrollment. Furthermore, China trails the United States in Market sophistication and Business sophistication, and is ranked 61st in Institutions.

The GII 2021 report also sheds light on the emergence of new science and technology (S&T) clusters globally. The majority of these clusters are concentrated in a limited number of countries. The United States hosts the highest number of S&T clusters, followed by China, Germany, and Japan.

Within China, the fastest-growing S&T clusters are Qingdao, which recorded a 33.1 percent increase in output, and Suzhou, with a 21.7 percent increase. These clusters contribute significantly to China’s expanding innovation ecosystem and reinforce its position as a rising innovation powerhouse.

Overall, the Global Innovation Index 2021 underscores China’s rapid progress in innovation outputs, while also highlighting areas requiring further development to sustain and enhance its global innovation standing.