The World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report for 2019 ranks 141 economies on their innovation capability. The innovation ecosystem is measured with the help of five sub-pillars-commercialization, Interaction, and diversity, administrative requirements, research and development, and entrepreneurial culture. Other important factors like education and the intensity of competitive skills they possess also help determine the country's innovation capabilities.

1. 1
THE TOP INNOVATIVE ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD
VARUN KESAVAN, RESEARCH SCHOLAR, E – MMAIL ID – varunkesavan@yahoo.com
Germany
Germany features on top in the Global Competitiveness Report due to its contribution to
the automobile industry like driverless cars, where it is focusing on digitally-networked
mobility and electric mobility. The western European country scores particularly high with
respect to research and development. The country spends 2.9 per cent of GDP on
research and development (R&D). This commitment to Research and Development
shows that German carmakers are now shaping the future.
UnitedStates
The United States features at number two in the Global Competitiveness Index 2019. The
country remains a powerhouse of innovation and also holds prominence in scientific
research.
Switzerland
Switzerland lands the third position on the list for having the most highly skilled workforce
through which the country can transform its innovation into products. It is also the second
most innovative country in Europe. It scores high on collaboration, coming out tops for
international co-inventions (71.42) per million of the population.

2. 2
Taiwan,China
The country has already earned praise for its efficiency and production with the opening
of Amazon's new innovation centre last year in Taipei. A host of innovations were
introduced last year. A total of six Taiwan innovations won R&D 100 awards, creating a
record at the world's most prestigious competition for science and technology inventions.
For now, it is at the fourth position because of its diversity of workforce, and third for the
number of patent applications per million of the population.
Sweden
Like the United States, Sweden has always stood fourth for international co-invention per
million of the population. The country also spends on its innovation, spending 3.3% of its
GDP on research and development. In the overall ranking it stands at number five.
SouthKorea
The second most innovative economy in Asia, South Korea features at number six. South
Korea spends a relatively high percentage of its GDP on research and development and
scores high on manufacturing output. The country scores high for sophistication as well
as for patent applications and R&D expenditure.

3. 3
Japan
Although it is seventh in the overall innovation list, Japan is at number one position in
terms of its research and development sub-pillar. The country has by far the most patent
applications from among the countries mentioned in the list of top 10 most innovative
economies.
United Kingdom
The UK is at number eight for its innovation capabilities. The country's strongest indicator
is none other than its scientific publications, for which it scores 1,280-150 points higher
than the most innovative country, Germany.
France
France ranks third for its prominence in research. The country performs well in the
research and development field.
Netherlands
The Netherlands has shown some major improvements this year across every indicator
in the research and development sub-pillar, ranking third for multi-stakeholder
collaborations, and improvement last year.