Russia was in 51st place in the Global Innovation Index

In 2023, Russia dropped by four positions in the Global Innovation Index ranking of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), taking 51st place in the list of 132 countries. The Russian Federation continues to show the best results in the field of human capital development and science – 26th place (an increase of one position). The state of institutions has a negative impact on its position – the country is rapidly declining in this sub-rating (110th place versus 89th in 2022). Assessments of both the resource base for innovation and their results have also deteriorated. However, the Institute of Statistical Research and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) of the National Research University Higher School of Economics doubts the results obtained.

Since 2007, the “Global Innovation Index” has been compiled by WIPO (a specialized agency of the UN) together with a network of academic partners, which from 2021 includes the Higher School of Economics. In 2022, the Russian Federation was in 47th place in the ranking; this year it dropped to 51st, finding itself between Qatar and Chile. In 2021, the country was in 45th place, in 2020 – in 47th.

The top three this year have not changed – Switzerland, the USA and Sweden, followed by the UK, Singapore, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and South Korea.

China is in 12th place (in 2022 – in 11th place). WIPO points out that when assessing changes in positions, one must take into account that the ranking includes a significant amount of data for the period of the pandemic and after it – approximately 88% of data points cover 2020-2023, most of them are based on information for 2021 (34% ) and 2022 (35%).

In total, the rating was compiled for 132 countries based on 80 indicators and is calculated as the average of two subindices – resources for innovation (institutions, human capital and science, infrastructure, level of market and business development are assessed) and their results (development of technology and the knowledge economy, results of creative activity ).

In 2023, the Russian Federation demonstrated a decrease in assessments of both the resource base for innovation (minus 12 positions, to 58th place) and their results (minus 3 positions, to 53rd place), although in 2020–2022 the second subindex showed growth .

And if previously the Russian Federation traditionally occupied a higher place in assessing resources than in assessing results, this year the situation has changed.

The Russian Federation continued to show the best results in the field of development of human capital and science – 26th place (a year earlier – 27th) – scores increased according to the criteria of “research and development” (27th place versus 29th), as well as “education” (50th place versus 58th). The contribution of the “Institutions” component continues to fall rapidly and negatively affect the overall position in the ranking – according to this indicator, the country took 110th place against 89th a year earlier (in 2021 – 67th place). The worst rated “institutional environment” (111th place, last year was rated “political environment”) – the assessment takes into account “operational stability for business” (124th place, previously rated “political and operational stability”) and “government effectiveness “(83rd place versus 68th place).

Speaking about the global situation with innovation against the backdrop of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, WIPO notes the mixed dynamics of investment in innovation in 2022. Thus, investments in R&D by corporations with the highest expenses for this type of activity reached a historical maximum – $1.1 trillion (an increase of approximately 7.4%). A real increase in government spending on research is also expected following last year’s results. The number of venture capital deals also increased – by 17.6%, but their value decreased by 37.8%, and the number of international patent applications remained virtually unchanged (an increase of 0.3%). Such growth rates are inferior to the dynamics of 2021, WIPO emphasizes. “The forecast for 2023–2024 is uncertain,” the organization said in a statement.

The HSE ISSEK notes a reduction in communications with WIPO and a lack of involvement in dialogue when preparing the current year’s ranking. “Our academic partnership is passive: we are informed, but not involved in the process. Previously, we prepared certain analytical sections,” Leonid Gokhberg, first vice-rector of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, director of ISSEK, told Kommersant. In his opinion, the results of the rating for the Russian Federation “raise doubt.” Firstly, it is obvious that WIPO used data for 2021 (there are no data for 2023 yet, and for 2022 they were received just recently), the results of which in the field of science and innovation were quite positive. In this regard, it is simply impossible to suspect that there was any deterioration in this year, he believes. Secondly, the Russian Federation did not provide data for 2021 to international organizations due to a moratorium on interaction. “Therefore, I see no reason for any ratings, including negative ones,” says Leonid Gokhberg.

Venera Petrova