Figure 1: Framework of the Global Innovation Index.
The Global Innovation Index (GII) has been
ranking world economies since 2007 according to
their innovation capabilities using approximately
80 indicators. These include measures of human
capital development and research, development
funding, university performance, and international
dimensions of patent applications among a host
of other important parameters. Over the years, the
GII has demonstrated that the innovation capacity
of any nation is measured not only by what it does
locally, but also by how it impacts globally. Issues
such as poverty, health, urbanisation, access to
water, and climate change are of a global nature
but, at the same time, both the challenges
and their solutions have local consequences.
Therefore innovative breakthroughs that provide
local solutions in the developing world can have
a global impact and can provide an opportunity
for sharing among other emerging nations for their
mutual benefit.
The GII 2016 Conceptual Framework
The GII helps to create an environment in which
innovation factors are continually evaluated. This
year it is providing a key tool of detailed metrics
for 128 economies, representing 92.8% of the
world’s population and 97.9% of the world’s GDP
(in current US dollars).
Four measures are calculated: the overall GII, the
Input and Output Sub-Indices, and the Innovation
Efficiency Ratio (Figure 1).
●●
The overall GII score is the simple average of
the Input and Output Sub-Index scores.
●●
The Innovation Input Sub-Index is comprised
of five input pillars that capture elements of
the national economy that enable innovative
activities: (1) Institutions, (2) Human capital
and research, (3) Infrastructure, (4) Market
sophistication, and (5) Business sophistication.
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