Dublin: Ireland has risen to 18th place in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024, up from 19th last year and 23rd in 2022. The index, compiled annually by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), evaluates nearly 140 countries across areas such as human capital, infrastructure, market and business sophistication.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Ireland performed strongly in the institutional and business environment (10th), but ranked lower in human capital and research (24th). Venture capital activity also reflected mixed trends, showing a 1.9% decline over four years, despite a 1.7% increase between 2023 and 2024.
Global Leaders
Switzerland, Sweden and the US took the top three positions, with Switzerland leading the index for the sixth consecutive year. The UK ranked sixth overall.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless, TD, welcomed the progress but stressed the need for further improvement to strengthen national competitiveness. He highlighted Ireland’s Action Plan for Competitiveness and Productivity, which places research and innovation at its core while also targeting FDI growth, SME scaling, export expansion, and infrastructure delivery.
Irish Samachar English News