Brunei Darussalam ranked 88th among the 133 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024, released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) this week.
The sultanate was down by one place compared to last year (2023) at 87th.
The Global Innovation Index (GII) ranks world economies according to their innovation capabilities. Consisting of roughly 80 indicators, grouped into innovation inputs and outputs, the GII aims to capture the multi-dimensional facets of innovation.
Among high-income group economies, Brunei Darussalam ranked 50th while among 17 economies in Southeast Asia, East Asia and Oceania, the sultanate ranked 14th among the 17 economies.
More needs to be done in innovation outputs than in innovation inputs in 2024.
The report said, that this year Brunei Darussalam ranked 55th in innovation inputs. This position is lower than last year.
Brunei Darussalam ranked 123rd in innovation outputs. This position is higher than last year.
For Brunei Darussalam, one indicator has improved in the short term and three indicators have worsened.
Brunei Darussalam ranked highest in Institutions (25th), Human capital and research (56th), Infrastructure (65th) and Business sophistication (82nd).
Brunei Darussalam ranked lowest in Creative outputs (124th), Knowledge and technology outputs (115th) and Market sophistication (105th).
Meanwhile according to the ASEAN Secretariat on Wednesday (2nd Oct), in this GII’s 2024 edition, three ASEAN member states (AMS) ranked among the top eight fastest movers of the past decade: Viet Nam (from 76th to 44th), Philippines (from 90th to 53rd) and Indonesia (from 85th to 54th). Six ASEAN member states have moved up in the top 55 of the rankings, showcasing the region’s rising influence: Singapore (4th), Malaysia (33rd), Thailand (41st), Viet Nam (44th), Philippines (53rd) and Indonesia (54th).
Cambodia and Lao PDR also demonstrated encouraging progress in Market Sophistication, Knowledge & Technology outputs, and Institutions, while Myanmar has seen improvements in innovation outputs, and Brunei Darussalam continues to build a dynamic and forward-thinking innovation environment.
The GII 2024 revealed that ASEAN’s concerted efforts in improving innovation linkages, institutional and regulatory environments, human capital, and digital infrastructure have led to substantial growth in key innovation metrics over the past decade. Thanks to decades of regional integration and cooperation in intellectual property (IP), science, technology and innovation, ASEAN’s combined R&D investments have grown more than fivefold, from USD10.6 billion in 2002 to USD54.9 billion in 2023.
Furthermore, ASEAN has emerged as a global leader in high-tech exports, rising from USD 303 billion in 2013 to USD598 billion in 2022. Five ASEAN member states: Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – ranked among the top 10 high-tech exports as a percentage of total trade, underscoring the region’s capability to drive advanced technologies.
Acknowledging the positive backdrop of the ASEAN’s steady progress in fostering innovation, nurturing talent, and embracing digital transformation, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, emphasised that “Innovation lies at the core of ASEAN’s Vision 2045, which aspire to create a knowledge-based, innovation-led community that champions sustainable development, regional integration, and global competitiveness.
The GII 2024 results motivate us to push the boundaries even further. By leveraging our collective strengths, we can transform ASEAN into a leading force in the global innovation landscape, ensuring that innovation drives prosperity for all.” – AZLAN OTHMAN
