Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology
Context
- The 18th edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, was released by the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO).
- GII established in 2007, it is published annually and provides performance metrics and ranks around 140 economies on their innovation ecosystems.
Major Finding
- Decline of R&D: Growth fell to 2.9% in 2024, a slowdown from the 4.4% increase in the year prior and the lowest growth since the financial crisis of 2010.
- Growth is projected by WIPO to slow further in 2025 (2.3%).
- Top Nations: Switzerland remains the world’s top innovation leader for the 15th consecutive year, followed by Sweden, the United States, South Korea, and Singapore in the top five ranks.
- China, for the first time, enters the top 10, ranked 10th globally, leading among middle-income economies.
- India: India has made a steady climb from #48 in 2020 to #38 in 2025, and importantly, holds the #1 spot among lower-middle-income economies and in the Central and Southern Asia region.
- India performs best in Knowledge & Technology Outputs (#22) and Market Sophistication (#38), while its weakest rankings are in Business Sophistication (#64), Infrastructure (#61), and Institutions (#58).
- India stands out for its ICT services exports, a vibrant VC landscape, late-stage VC and startup financing, unicorns and intangible assets – reflecting tech-driven growth.
Significance for India
- India’s steady climb shows strength in the digital economy, startups, ICT exports.
- But gaps in infrastructure, institutions, business sophistication highlight areas needing reform.
Key Indian Initiatives for Innovation
- Startup India (2016): Launched by DPIIT; offers tax exemptions, Fund of Funds, credit guarantee, and ease of compliance to nurture startups.
- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): NITI Aayog initiative; promotes innovation through Atal Tinkering Labs (schools), Incubation Centres (startups), and New India Challenges (solutions to national problems).
- National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI): DST programme; supports innovators via PRAYAS (idea to prototype), Entrepreneur-in-Residence (fellowships), and incubation support.
- Digital Public Infrastructure (UPI, Aadhaar, ONDC, DigiLocker): Creates scalable platforms that enable innovation across fintech, commerce, and governance.
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes: Incentivises R&D and manufacturing in sectors like electronics, semiconductors, EVs, pharma.
| World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) – It is a self-funding agency of the United Nations, that serves the world’s innovators and creators, ensuring that their ideas travel safely to the market and improve lives everywhere. – Members: The organization has 194 member states including both developing and developed nations like India, Italy, Israel, Austria, Bhutan, Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, Pakistan, the U.S. and the U.K. – Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland. |
Source: IE
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