Luxembourg has moved up one place in the Global Innovation Index, returning to the top 20 for this 17th edition. Published annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (Wipo), in collaboration with the Portulans Institute, this index assesses the innovation performance of more than 130 economies using 78 indicators drawn from public and private sources. Countries are classified according to seven categories: institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication, technological knowledge and creative performance.

Switzerland remains the most innovative economy for the 14th year running. The podium remains unchanged, with Sweden and the United States in second and third place respectively. Singapore, the spearhead of Asian innovation, moved up one place to fourth place. Europe retains its hegemony with 15 countries in the top 25, including seven in the top 10. However, the continent is showing signs of slowing down: only nine countries have improved their ranking this year, ten fewer than in 2023. China, in 11th place, remains the only middle-income country in the top 30. India retains its leadership in South Asia, while Brazil, Chile and Mexico dominate in Latin America. In sub-Saharan Africa, Mauritius comes out on top.

Luxembourg owes much of its ranking to the quality of its institutions and its sophisticated business environment. The country stands out particularly in the information and communication technology sector, with many jobs requiring a high level of skills and knowledge. It also stands out for its creativity, occupying first place as an exporter of cultural and creative services. However, Luxembourg is lagging behind in terms of infrastructure, both general and environmental.

Outside Luxembourg, the report shows that after a peak in activity between 2020 and 2022, the innovation sector is marking time. Scientific publications, venture capital investments and international patent filings have fallen back to their pre-pandemic levels. Although large companies increased their R&D spending in 2023 (+6%), this figure remains below the trend of recent years. On a more positive note, notable advances continue to emerge in the fields of 5G, robotics and electric vehicles.