Since 2007, the GII has established itself as the world's leading reference for measuring innovation. Member States use it to benchmark their innovation performance and inform their national strategies to strengthen their innovation ecosystems. The United Nations itself relies on it as a key reference for shaping science and technology policies around the globe.
The 19th edition of the Global Innovation Index ranks the most innovative economies in the world in 2026 amongst 139 economies and reveals where innovation clusters are located. For the 16th consecutive year, Switzerland is the most innovative economy in 2026 followed by Sweden and the United States. WIPO reporte
Switzerland leads world's most innovative economies in 2026
Switzerland has retained its position as the world's most innovative economy in 2026, followed by Sweden and the United States, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) Global Innovation Index 2026.
The latest edition of the index ranks 139 economies based on their innovation performance, using indicators covering research and development, technological progress, high-tech trade, skilled employment and intellectual property.
The top 10 most innovative economies in 2026 are:
Switzerland
Sweden
United States
Republic of Korea
Singapore
United Kingdom
Netherlands
Finland
Denmark
China
Switzerland has maintained the top position for the 16th consecutive year, while Europe continues to dominate the rankings, accounting for 14 of the world's top 25 innovation economies.
Asian economies also maintain a strong presence, with South Korea ranking fourth, Singapore fifth and China securing 10th place.
Meanwhile, China remains the only middle-income economy among the world's top 15 innovation leaders.
The report also highlights the growing innovation performance of emerging economies, including India, Viet Nam, Türkiye, the Philippines, Morocco and Indonesia.
According to WIPO, artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping global innovation, attracting more than half of venture capital investment in the sector.
The 2026 index is published under the theme 'Powering Entrepreneurs at the Frontier of Science', highlighting the role of scientific discoveries and entrepreneurship in driving technological development and economic growth.
