Russia Ranked Among Top 50 Countries in Global Innovation
Russia has placed 49th in the 2014 Global Innovation Index (GII), up 13 places over last year
Aug 04, 2014
Among the other BRICS countries, three more states have also improved their ranking with Brazil climbing three places (to 61), China moving up six places (to 29) and South Africa finding itself five places closer to pole position (at 53). Switzerland tops the rating for the fourth time, with second and third place going to the UK and Sweden, respectively.
The GII examines the level of innovative development in various countries. This year, researchers included the First Vice-Rector of the Higher School of Economics (HSE) and Director of the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) Leonid Gokhberg and ISSEK researcher Valentina Polyakova.
"Russia’s move from 62nd to 49th place is very important," said Gokhberg. "China and Russia have demonstrated the most improvement in this respect in recent years. At the same time it should be noted that Russia has moved from being among the middle-income group of countries to joining the high-income group. Changes have been seen in terms other than innovation."
According to Gokhberg, Russia is strongest in the field of human capital and research, ranking 30th in the index. Russia has made significant progress in terms of knowledge creation, including the number of patent applications for inventions and utilities on the domestic market, and in the amount of scientific publications. At the same time, however, there remain serious problems with regard to the quality of institutions, the level of competition and the country’s investment climate.
"It is interesting that according to the Global Innovation Index report, Russia is among 15 countries in which the amount of spending on science grew in the post-2008 crisis period," said Gokhberg. "If we are able to maintain and develop our competitive advantages, including increasing spending on science as well as implementing effective measures to improve the quality of institutions and improve the investment climate, then a further increase in innovative activity of the economy can be expected."
According to the director Gokhberg, the European Commission’s Institute for Prospective Technological Studies participated in the preparation of the Global Innovation Index. Its members specifically maintain the stability and quality of the information used. Data collected for the rating comes from international sources and ignores data coming from within the ranked countries.
"The Global Innovation Index differs significantly from other ratings in its methodology and the information it uses, although, of course, there is room for improvement," said Gokhberg.
The GII examines the level of innovative development in various countries. This year, researchers included the First Vice-Rector of the Higher School of Economics (HSE) and Director of the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) Leonid Gokhberg and ISSEK researcher Valentina Polyakova.
"Russia’s move from 62nd to 49th place is very important," said Gokhberg. "China and Russia have demonstrated the most improvement in this respect in recent years. At the same time it should be noted that Russia has moved from being among the middle-income group of countries to joining the high-income group. Changes have been seen in terms other than innovation."
According to Gokhberg, Russia is strongest in the field of human capital and research, ranking 30th in the index. Russia has made significant progress in terms of knowledge creation, including the number of patent applications for inventions and utilities on the domestic market, and in the amount of scientific publications. At the same time, however, there remain serious problems with regard to the quality of institutions, the level of competition and the country’s investment climate.
"It is interesting that according to the Global Innovation Index report, Russia is among 15 countries in which the amount of spending on science grew in the post-2008 crisis period," said Gokhberg. "If we are able to maintain and develop our competitive advantages, including increasing spending on science as well as implementing effective measures to improve the quality of institutions and improve the investment climate, then a further increase in innovative activity of the economy can be expected."
According to the director Gokhberg, the European Commission’s Institute for Prospective Technological Studies participated in the preparation of the Global Innovation Index. Its members specifically maintain the stability and quality of the information used. Data collected for the rating comes from international sources and ignores data coming from within the ranked countries.
"The Global Innovation Index differs significantly from other ratings in its methodology and the information it uses, although, of course, there is room for improvement," said Gokhberg.