The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has published the Global Innovation Index (GII) for 2023, ranking 132 countries according to their innovation performance. The GII, released for the 16th consecutive year, is the leading benchmark for measuring the performance of the innovation ecosystem in business. It can also be a useful benchmarking tool for policy makers, the business world and others to assess progress in innovation over time. This year's GII findings also reflect a period of slow economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, high interest rates and geopolitical conflicts.

Slovenia retains its 33rd place in this year's ranking. In terms of the areas covered by each indicator, Slovenia scored best in Infrastructure (20th) and worst in Domestic Market Progressiveness (68th).

Among European countries, Slovenia ranks 21st (out of 39 countries), ahead of Lithuania and behind the Czech Republic. Slovenia's neighbours are ranked 18th in the GII ranking, followed by Austria, 26th Italy, 35th Hungary and 44th Croatia. Among the 50 high-income economies, Slovenia is ranked 32nd.

The top five most innovative countries in the world are followed by Sweden, ahead of the third-placed United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore. They are followed by several European countries: the UK in 4th place, Finland in 6th place, the Netherlands in 7th place, Germany in 8th place and Denmark in 9th place. European countries are also considered to be the most innovative, with twelve countries in the top twenty.

China is the only middle-income economy among the top 30 GII countries - in 12th place. Over the last four years and since the start of the pandemic, the countries that have risen the most in the rankings are Mauritius (57th), Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Pakistan.

A total of 21 economies are expected to outperform in terms of their level of development, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, East Asia and Oceania.

On the WIPO website, you can view the full report and other information, including key summaries and country-by-country handouts.

As part of Slovenia's innovation ecosystem, the Intellectual Property Office will continue to work to advance Slovenia's GII ranking through the emerging National IP Strategy.