Preface
Innovation fuels progress, but cannot be captured by numbers alone. The Global Innovation Index (GII) charts breakthroughs in technology, business models, social initiatives, and systemic shifts, so as to reveal how fresh ideas are transforming economies and societies.
Titled "Innovation at a Crossroads" , the 2025 edition of the GII shows a world in transition. Innovation systems are at a turning point, as they adapt to geopolitical shifts, rapid technological advances, and novel forms of collaboration. Technological breakthroughs are converging at an unprecedented pace. Advances in artificial intelligence, from foundational models to autonomous systems, promise to reshape industries, labor markets and social frameworks. Progress in quantum computing and clean energy continues, but governance, inclusivity, and ethical stewardship remain critical questions.
In such a period of global transition, key indicators of innovation present a complex and evolving landscape. Although research and development (R&D) investment continues to rise, its slower growth mirrors the more tempered pace seen in past economic recoveries. Venture capital activity has also moderated, with a small number of large deals in major innovation hubs accounting for most of global investment, underscoring ongoing caution in early-stage funding. Patenting activity, meanwhile, has shown only modest gains, reflecting a broader sense of hesitation rather than renewed momentum. Taken together, these trends highlight a moment of recalibration for the global innovation ecosystem.
Collaboration is evolving, as ecosystems become more networked and distributed. New forms of partnerships, open-science platforms and multi-stakeholder coalitions accelerate knowledge exchange. These collaborative models are helping address shared challenges, such as climate resilience, public health and sustainable development, while balancing national priorities with collective goals.
This 18th edition of the GII provides the rigorous data and analysis required to illustrate how innovation adapts at this crossroads. We explore shifting investment patterns, evolving policy landscapes, and the interplay between established and emerging innovation actors. In terms of rankings, continuity dominates. Familiar leaders remain at the top, while several emerging economies continue their gradual upward trajectory. The landscape shows progress that is steady and incremental rather than dramatic.
By assessing the ecosystems that nurture innovation, the GII guides strategic efforts by looking beyond anecdotal evidence and short-term fixes. Understanding resilience and adaptability is more vital than ever, as countries and organizations navigate growing complexity.
Published annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the GII remains the benchmark study of global innovation. With the support of Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO, and the GII team, the 2025 Global Innovation Index continues to serve as a key reference at this pivotal moment, offering clarity on steering innovation toward sustainable, inclusive and collaborative futures.
We would like to thank our Academic Network partners and Members of the GII Industry Association Network as well as the GII Advisory Committee for their expertise and WIPO leadership for their support. As co-editors, we uphold the analytical rigor and transparency necessary to keep the GII an authoritative global resource.
Soumitra Dutta
Founder and co-editor of the Global Innovation Index
Co-founder of the Portulans Institute
Bruno Lanvin
Co-editor of the Global Innovation Index
Co-founder of the Portulans Institute