Global Innovation Index 2024

Context

India has elevated to 39th place among 133 international economies within the Global Innovation Index 2024.

About

• The Global Innovation Index (GII) is posted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized company of the United Nations.
• It measures innovation based on criteria that include institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, credit score, investment, linkages; the advent, absorption and diffusion of information; and creative outputs.

Global Innovation Index 2024

• Top performer: Switzerland, Sweden, United States, Singapore and the UK 
• Fastest 10-year climbers: China, Turkiye, India, Viet Nam and the Philippines.

India’s Performance

• India has been on a rising trajectory, over the past several years within the Global Innovation Index (GII), from a rank of 81 in 2015 to 40 in 2023.
• India’s strengths lie in key indicators such as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services exports (at 1st place, globally), mission capital received and intangible asset intensity. 
• India’s unicorn groups also secure the country the 8th rank globally.

Initiatives taken by India

• The Atal Innovation Mission has played a chief role in increasing the Innovation atmosphere.
• The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) was established to foster a lifestyle of research and innovation for the duration of India’s universities, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.
• Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) established by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is geared toward strengthening and empowering emerging biotechnology companies to adopt strategic studies and innovation.
• National Research Foundation (NRF): Announced as a part of the National Education Policy 2020, NRF aims to promote a way of life of studies and innovation in universities and better education institutions via investment in interdisciplinary research.

Challenges

• Fragmented Innovation Ecosystem: India’s innovation ecosystem lacks integration among academia, industry, and government. Collaboration across these sectors is weak, leading to poor commercialization of studies outputs
• Skill Mismatch and Brain Drain: Despite a huge pool of STEM graduates, many lack the skills required for modern innovation.
  • Additionally, many professional experts seek higher opportunities overseas, contributing to brain drain.
• Infrastructural Bottlenecks: Insufficient infrastructure, specifically in rural and semi-city areas, hinders the growth of revolutionary organisations. 
  • Private sector participation in R&D remains restrained in India. However in leading progressive economies where personal organizations play a great role in R&D.

Way Ahead

• The regular development in the GII ranking is attributable to the knowledge capital and vibrant start-up environment.
• However there is a need to encourage more private zone involvement in R&D and innovation in rising fields consisting of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, Quantum Computing etc.

Source: PIB

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q. With reference to the ‘National Intellectual Property Rights Policy’, consider the following statements: (2017)

1. It reiterates India’s commitment to the Doha Development Agenda and the TRIPS Agreement.
2. Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion is the nodal agency for regulating intellectual  property rights in India.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only 

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2 

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c)

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