Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Global Innovation Index 2026: India Ranks 38th Worldwide
The Global Innovation Index compares how well economies support and produce new ideas.
The World Intellectual Property Organization made this 2026 edition, which covers 139 economies.
It uses about 80 measures, including conditions that help innovation and the results of innovation.
The two groups of measures count equally in the overall score.
Switzerland is first for the 16th year in a row.
India is 38th overall and ranks first in its lower-middle-income group and its region.
India does better on innovation results than on the conditions that support innovation.
It ranks first worldwide for ICT services exports.
The Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou area is the leading innovation cluster, while Bengaluru and Delhi rank 25th and 27th.
The World Intellectual Property Organization’s 19th Global Innovation Index ranks 139 economies using roughly 80 indicators.
Switzerland leads for the 16th consecutive year, followed by Sweden and the United States; no new economy entered the top 15.
India ranks 38th overall, first among 36 lower-middle-income economies and first among 11 economies in Central and Southern Asia.
India ranks 49th for innovation inputs and 25th for outputs, and leads globally in ICT services exports.
Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou is the top innovation cluster; Bengaluru ranks 25th and Delhi 27th.
- Who
- The World Intellectual Property Organization published the index; 139 economies are ranked.
- What
- The Global Innovation Index 2026 measures and ranks innovation performance and innovation clusters.
- When
- The 2026 edition; the article does not give a publication date.
- Where
- Worldwide, including rankings of economies and innovation clusters.
- Why
- To measure innovation performance and track global innovation trends; the index is also used as a reference for science and technology policymaking.
- Publisher
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- Edition and coverage
- 19th edition; ranks 139 economies
- Indicators
- Roughly 80 indicators, grouped into equally weighted input and output sub-indices
- Top economies
- Switzerland, Sweden and the United States
- India overall rank
- 38th; first among lower-middle-income economies and in Central and Southern Asia
- India sub-index ranks
- 49th in innovation inputs; 25th in innovation outputs
- Leading innovation cluster
- Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou
- Indian cluster ranks
- Bengaluru 25th; Delhi 27th