Print this article

Global Innovation Efficiency Index: Top 10 nations

Last updated on: July 5, 2012 09:14 IST

Workers watch as a battery exchange robot changes the batteries in an electric car at China's largest electric vehicle battery recharging station in Beijing.

The Global Innovation Efficiency Index shows which countries are best in transforming given innovation inputs into outstanding outputs.

Countries which are strong in producing innovation outputs despite a weaker innovation environment and innovation inputs are poised to rank high in this "efficiency" index.

In the Global Innovation Efficiency Index, China and India lead the top 10 league of countries.

The Global Innovation Index (GII) project was launched by INSEAD in 2007 with the goal of determining how to find metrics and approaches to better capture the richness of innovation in society.

Click NEXT to see the top 10 nations in the Global Innovation Efficiency Index...

Global Innovation Efficiency Index: Top 10 nations

Last updated on: July 5, 2012 09:14 IST

A 49-year-old electric bike mechanic who identified himself only as Wu welds a component to fit onto his newly-made robot (R) at his repair shop in Shenyang, Liaoning province.

1. China
Efficiency score: 1.13
GDP per capita (PPP): $8394.1

China scores high on knowledge and technology outputs (for which its score is above the average score of the GII top 10), and in Infrastructure and Market and Business sophistication.

Areas where improvements would be conducive to higher aggregate GII rankings include institutions, human capital and research and creative outputs.

The Innovation input sub-index gauges elements of the national economy which embodies innovative activities grouped in five pillars: (1) Institutions, (2) Human capital and research, (3) Infrastructure, (4) Market sophistication, and (5) Business sophistication.

Click NEXT to read more...

Global Innovation Efficiency Index: Top 10 nations

Last updated on: July 5, 2012 09:14 IST

Greenpeace activists set up an art installation made of dismantled computers to send a message on hazardous electronic waste.

2. India

Efficiency score: 1.10
GDP per capita (PPP): $3703. 5

With one of the most business-friendly communities being that of the ICT sector - India ranks 4th in computer and communication services exports, at 70.5 per cent of commercial services exports - its 108th and 117th positions in ICT access and use, respectively, reflect the existence of pockets of wealth developing around niche markets and clusters (the software industry in this case), with little trickle down to the rest of society.

The inverted progression in the ranking in Human capital and research, with a ranking of 113th in elementary education, 135th in tertiary education, and 55th in R&D is symptomatic of the same phenomenon.

Click NEXT to read more...

Global Innovation Efficiency Index: Top 10 nations

Last updated on: July 5, 2012 09:14 IST

3. Republic of Moldova

Efficiency score: 1.08
GDP per capita (PPP): $3383

The Republic of Moldova is ranked 50th (48th among GII 2011 countries), down from 39th in 2011. Moldova has a relative advantage in innovation outputs (30th, 1st among lower-middleincome economies), ranking 3rd in efficiency, with relative strengths on four intellectual property (IP) indicators: patent and utility model applications at the domestic level.

Click NEXT to read more...

Global Innovation Efficiency Index: Top 10 nations

Last updated on: July 5, 2012 09:14 IST

Dolphin show at Mediterraneo Marine Park, Malta.

4. Malta

Efficiency score: 1.03
GDP per capita (PPP): $25,782.7

The EU12 group is led by high income countries Malta, followed by Estonia in the top 20.

Click NEXT to read more...

Global Innovation Efficiency Index: Top 10 nations

Last updated on: July 5, 2012 09:14 IST

The head of an automaton is pictured in a box in the workshop of Swiss artisan Francois Junod in Sainte-Croix.

5. Switzerland

Efficiency score: 1.01
GDP per capita (PPP): 43,508.6

While Switzerland ranks first in the Global Innovation Index, it is at the fifth position in the Global Innovation Efficiency Index. It scores high on knowledge and technology outputs. It also has a sound infrastructure system in place.

Click NEXT to read more...

Global Innovation Efficiency Index: Top 10 nations

Last updated on: July 5, 2012 09:14 IST

6. Paraguay

Efficiency score: 0.94
GDP per capita (PPP): $5,548.9

Among the lower income countries, Paraguay ranks third in the Global Innovation Efficiency Index.

Click NEXT to read more...

Global Innovation Efficiency Index: Top 10 nations

Last updated on: July 5, 2012 09:14 IST

7. Serbia

Efficiency score: 0.93
GDP per capita (PPP): $10,661.3

Serbia leads the group of innovation learners. The country also scores high in the Output Sub-Index.

Click NEXT to read more...

Global Innovation Efficiency Index: Top 10 nations

Last updated on: July 5, 2012 09:14 IST

Zerotracer electric car is driven during the Electric Car Rally from Tallinn to Monte Carlo event in Tallinn.

8. Estonia

Efficiency score: 0.93
GDP per capita (PPP): 20,182.1

Estonia is ranked 19th in the overall Global Innovation Index.

Click NEXT to read more...

Global Innovation Efficiency Index: Top 10 nations

Last updated on: July 5, 2012 09:14 IST

Nemo, the world's first canal boat powered by hydrogen fuel cell, arrives in Amsterdam.

9. The Netherlands

Efficiency score: 0.92
GDP per capita (PPP): $ 42,330.7

The Netherlands also figures among the top 10 nations in the overall Global Inoovation Index. The Netherlands ranks 6th, up from 9th in 2011, and with a clear relative advantage in outputs.

Click NEXT to read more...

Global Innovation Efficiency Index: Top 10 nations

Last updated on: July 5, 2012 09:14 IST

10. Sri Lanka

Efficiency score: 0.92
GDP per capita (PPP): $5,609.4

While Sri Lanka is ranked 10th in the Global Innovation Efficiency Index, it is ranked at 94 in the overall Global Innovation Index.