Innovation capabilities are key to success in the globalised markets. Strength and depth of R&D activities is the basis for the development of value-added technologies and services that allow a society to prosper. Historic quality and availability of education are the base indication for R&D and innovation capabilities, while today's education performance reflect future innovation capabilities.
Innovation and education drive competitiveness in the knowledge economy
Bottom Line: Countries with high intellectual capital scores are more likely to develop successful economies through research and knowledge-driven industries, achieving higher sustainable growth rates.
Key clusters to measure innovation capacity and knowledge development
Evaluation of the quality of education system based on financial and performance indicators
Comparison of educational performance (the outcomes of the education systems)
Evaluation of the availability and affordability of education system across the population
Evaluation of innovation capabilities based on performance indicators
Comparison of business-related innovation capabilities
Comparison of innovation capabilities related to high-end technology and future key industries
A global snapshot of intellectual capital performance and trends
North-East Asian countries (China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore) lead the intellectual capital sub-index, reflecting the ongoing shift of technological advancements. If the data is to be believed, the current century will be an Asian century
China for the first time tops the intellectual capital index, reflecting its rapid technologic advancements after decades of state-led investment in education, highlighting the importance of coherent state-wide education strategy
Switzerland (4), the UK (5) and Germany (11) also show high scores, with Scandinavian nations and Israel also in the top 20
Among emerging BRICS economies, Brazil ranks 48, India 91, and South Africa 127
Morocco (62), Tunisia (92) and Algeria (102) rank highest on the African continent. Nigeria, the most populous in Africa, ranks 182. The low performance of African countries raises concerns about persistent poverty traps
There is no direct line from current intellectual capital performance to current income/capita, but there is a very direct line of past state-led education investment and current income/capita. Education is the most important element to raise nations
Explore how countries compare across intellectual capital indicators
Loading map data...
Loading rankings...
Discover how Intellectual Capital connects with Natural, Economic, Social, and Governance Capital
View All Dimensions