India has seen a rising trajectory over the past several years, improving its rank significantly from 81 in 2015. The 2021 Global Innovation Index report by the World Intellectual Property Organization was released on Monday.

 

Meanwhile, Switzerland topped the league table, followed by Sweden, the US, and the UK, said the report by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Among Asian economies, South Korea jumped to the fifth position, up from 10 last year. China was in the 12th position.

 

“India (at 46) moves further ahead, by two spots (48 in GII 2020), after making it into the top 50 last year. It takes second place in the lower-middle-income group. India held the third position in its income group in 2019 and 2020, having entered the top three in 2019,” the GII report said.

 

 

Moreover, India has ranked second among 34 lower-middle-income group economies and first among the 10 economies in Central and Southern Asia. Relative to gross domestic product (GDP), India’s performance is above expectations for its level of development, WIPO said in a statement.

 

It added that India has been portrayed as successful in developing sophisticated services that are technologically dynamic and can be traded internationally. It continues to lead the world in the information and communication technology services exports indicator (1) and holds top ranks in other indicators, such as domestic industry diversification (12) and graduates in science and engineering (12).

 

 

WIPO’s criteria to measure innovation cover institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, credit, investment, linkages, creation, absorption, and diffusion of knowledge, and creative outputs.

 

Reacting to the ranking, Niti Aayog, the government’s think tank said, “The consistent improvement in the GII ranking is owing to the immense knowledge capital, the vibrant start-up ecosystem, and the amazing work done by the public and the private research organizations.”

 

India attributed its improved performance due to the pivotal role played by the Department of Atomic Energy, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Biotechnology, and the Department of Space.

Niti Aayog, in partnership with lobby group Confederation of Indian Industries and the World Intellectual Property Organisation, will virtually host the India launch of the GII and the Global Innovation Conclave on September 21-22.
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