Bahrain climbs to 78th rank in Global Innovation Index

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has climbed by a spot to rank 78th on the Global Innovation Index 2021, which checks the pulse of the most recent global innovation trends.

The 2021 edition of the GII presents the latest global innovation ranking of 132 economies, relying on 81 different indicators.

This edition also focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on innovation.

Bahrain currently stands at 78th position, as opposed to last year’s 79th spot, as per the findings prepared by the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

In the region, the report ranks Bahrain as 13th, with an average score of 28.8.

GII ranks Bahrain based on indicators from seven categories, which has its basis on several subcategories.

In terms of political, regulatory and business environment, the index ranks Bahrain as 49th globally.

Other ranking categories include Human Capital and Research (ranks 83rd), Infrastructure (38), Market sophistication (78), Business sophistication (90), Knowledge and technology outputs (82), and Creative outputs (106).

Among the subcategories, the performance of the Kingdom is noteworthy in Joint ventures and strategic alliances deals (ranks 9), electricity output (3), General infrastructure (10).

Other sectors in which Bahrain shines on the ranking - pupil-teacher ratio in secondary education (32), school life expectancy years (28), inbound mobility in tertiary education (12), Gross capital formation as % of GDP (15), ICT access (23), innovation linkages (33), Software spending (30), and ICT services export (33).

 On a global basis, the UAE gets 33rd rank, Saudi Arabia 66th, Qatar 68th, Kuwait 72nd and Oman 76th.

India has climbed two spots to 46. The report ranks Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, Britain and South Korea as the most innovative economies.

China and France edges up in the rankings, which continue to be dominated by Asia, Europe and North America.

 In its report, WIPO said that that innovation marched forward last year despite the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Technology, pharmaceuticals and biotech industries boosted their investments, even as hard-hit sectors like transport and travel eased back on spending.

It also warned that change in the overall “innovation landscape” was happening too slowly, saying a broader array of countries should benefit from it as the world rebuilds after the pandemic ebbs.