Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has climbed two places to 66th place among 131 countries on the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2020 from 68th place last year, according to a study.

The index, compiled by World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) along with Cornell University and the INSEAD business school, presents the latest global innovation trends and challenges and the annual innovation ranking of 131 economies.

Switzerland bagged the first spot in the GII ranking followed by Sweden, the United States of America, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

The report attributed the Kingdom's improved performance to its progress in several indicators, including the Innovation Output Index, which advanced from 85th last year to 77th in 2020, advancing 8 ranks.

Moreover, the Kingdom jumped from 86th place in on Creative Output Index in 2019 to 69th for 2020, advancing 7 ranks.

It has also advanced on the market development index from 47th in 2019 to 44th in 2020, advancing 3 ranks and advancing two ranks on the institution's index from 104th to 102nd in 2020.

The index measures innovation performance in the countries worldwide through innovation inputs and outputs, by specifying the average of two sub-indicators: the innovation input index, which is based on five pillars, including (institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market development, and business development), and the innovation outputs index, which is divided into (knowledge and technology outputs, and creative outputs).