“China Enters Top 10 of Global Innovation Ranking, Surpassing Germany”

According to Rokna, citing CNN, China has entered the top 10 of the United Nations’ annual ranking of the world’s most innovative countries for the first time, surpassing Europe’s largest economy, Germany, thanks to substantial investments by Beijing-based companies in research and development.

Switzerland retained its leading position, a spot it has held since 2011, followed by Sweden and the United States, while China secured the 10th place in the Global Innovation Index (GII), which assesses 139 economies based on 78 indicators.

According to the GII report, China is rapidly closing the gap in private sector R&D funding and is on track to become the world’s largest spender in research and development.

In 2024, China accounted for roughly one-fourth of global patent applications, maintaining its position as the top contributor, while the US, Japan, and Germany – which together represent 40% of all applications – experienced minor declines.

Patent ownership continues to be regarded as a key indicator of a country’s industrial expertise and economic strength.

However, the overall outlook for global innovation is tempered by slowing investment. Research and development growth is projected to decline to 2.3% this year, down from 2.9% last year, marking the lowest level since 2010 following the financial crisis.

Sacha Wunsch-Vincent, co-editor of the GII, emphasized that Germany should not be overly concerned about its drop to 11th place, noting that the rankings do not reflect the effects of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in the United States.

Daren Tang, Director General of the UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization, which publishes the innovation index, added: “Germany faces the challenge of maintaining its decades-long reputation as a powerhouse of industrial innovation while also emerging as a leader in digital innovation.”

The other countries among the top 10 – ranked behind the US but ahead of China – include South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark.