The Government of India recently unveiled the Global Innovation Index (GII) in the nation’s capital, New Delhi. This represents a landmark moment as it is the first instance that the GII has been launched within an emerging economy. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), falling under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, co-hosted this event along with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
India’s Performance on the Global Innovation Index
India enjoys a rank of 52 on the Global Innovation Index, improving five places since the previous year. This continuous advancement is a testament to the country’s commitment to fostering innovation. In terms of innovation drivers like Information and Communication Technology (ICT), services exports, the number of science and engineering graduates, the quality of its universities, gross capital formation (which reflects economy-wide investments), and creative goods exports, India ranks among the top nations globally.
Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi, three of India’s major cities, have carved out a niche for themselves in the world’s top science and technology clusters. They figure among the top 100 global clusters. Since 2011, India has consistently emerged as the most innovative economy in central and southern Asia.
Global Performance on the Global Innovation Index
In the Global Innovation Index, Switzerland holds the numero uno position, followed by Sweden, the United States of America, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, Singapore, Germany, and Israel.
Key Facts about Global Innovation Index
| Organization | Edition | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Cornell University, INSEAD, and the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | 12th Edition (2019) | Creating Healthy Lives – The Future of Medical Innovation |
About the Global Innovation Index
The GII, which is published annually by Cornell University, INSEAD, and WIPO, focuses on exploring the role of medical innovation in shaping the future trajectory of healthcare. This theme is aptly titled “Creating Healthy Lives – The Future of Medical Innovation”.
The GII is divided into two main sub-indices:
1. The Innovation Input Sub-Index
2. The Innovation Output Sub-Index
These sub-indices are structured around multiple key pillars, namely the Input Pillar and Output Pillar.
The Input pillars encapsulate elements of the national economy that pave the way for innovative activities. This includes aspects like institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, and business sophistication.
Conversely, the Output Pillars capture concrete evidence of innovation outputs. This mainly involves knowledge, technology outputs, and creative outputs.
