In recent years, innovation has proved to be a key enabler of progress and competitiveness; especially in times when the world is recovering from the aft ershocks of a global recession. Today, with the focus worldwide on stabilising the global economy and jumpstarting growth, a strong emphasis on directed pro-innovation policies can be a rainbow of hope for nations worldwide.
Third in the series, the Global Innovation Index and Report, launched in 2007 by INSEAD, has been brought out this year, like last, in partnership with India’s Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The Report has stressed the importance of innovation in country competitiveness and development strategies and has provided a very useful tool for decision makers and civil society alike to monitor national progress as well as benchmark best practices and policies in the field of innovation.
Iceland is the surprise topper despite the tough economic situation it has faced since two years. Sweden and Hong Kong follow in the second and third positions. Switzerland in the fourth position, Denmark, (fifth), Finland (sixth), Singapore (seventh), Netherlands (eighth), New Zealand (ninth) and Norway (tenth) are others in the top ten league. Among the best innovators from last year, USA (eleventh), UK (fourteen), Germany (sixteen) have fallen in ranks.