International Technology Innovation Index is a comprehensive global metric that evaluates a country’s capacity and performance in innovation. First published in 2009, the index was jointly developed by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and The Manufacturing Institute (MI), the NAM’s research affiliate.
NAM describes this index as the “largest and most comprehensive global index of its kind,” designed to capture both the business outcomes of innovation and how effectively governments promote innovation through public policy.
Research Methodology
The index is based on a multifaceted research study that includes:
- A survey of over 1,000 senior executives across diverse industries.
- In-depth interviews with 30 top executives.
- An evaluation of 110 countries and all 50 U.S. states on their “innovation friendliness.”
The data and insights from this research were compiled into the report titled “The Innovation Imperative in Manufacturing: How the United States Can Restore Its Edge.”
Measurement Approach
The International Innovation Index evaluates innovation using two primary categories:
- Innovation Inputs:
- Government policies
- Education systems
- Innovation environments
- Innovation Outputs:
- Patent activity
- R&D achievements
- Business productivity
- Economic and shareholder impact
Top-Ranked Countries (Overall Innovation Performance)
According to the 2009 report, the top-performing countries in overall innovation were:
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Hong Kong
- Finland
- United States
- Japan
- Sweden
These countries ranked highly both in terms of supportive innovation policies and in delivering tangible business results.
Key Insights
- Singapore leads the world in innovation, showcasing exceptional performance in both inputs and outputs.
- South Korea excels in performance outcomes, especially in R&D and patent production.
- The United States performs strongly in business-driven innovation but shows room for improvement in public innovation policies.
- Countries like China and India have emerging innovation capabilities but lag in comprehensive policy support or outcomes.
