Overview

• WIPO's 2025 Global Innovation Index ranks Switzerland first, followed by Sweden and the United States, with China at 10th and Germany 11th.
• Between the United States and China, the top 10 includes South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark.
• China accounted for about one quarter of international patent applications in 2024 as the United States, Japan and Germany posted slight declines.
• The report says China is on track to become the largest R&D spender as private-sector financing expands.
• GII editors cautioned that Germany’s drop should not trigger alarm, highlighting the need to convert industrial strengths into digital innovation leadership.