2015 Innovation Indicator Published - Study from ISI and ZEW Compares Innovation Performance in 35 National Economies

Germany is closing in on Switzerland and Singapore, the two countries leading in international innovation rankings. Germany now ranks in fifth place in international comparison.

Overall, the differences between those countries topping the ranking for all 35 national economies are becoming less considerable, whilst France and China are falling behind. This is the finding of the 2015 Innovation Indicator, carried out by the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) on behalf of acatech and the Federation of German Industries (BDI). Despite many "hidden champions" in Germany, small and medium-sized enterprises play a rather subordinate role in the German innovation system. These firms require better access to funding programmes, qualified personnel from abroad and digital ecosystems, in accordance with the "Easy Access" principle.

About the Innovation Indicator

The annually published Innovation Indicator is a study which compares countries in terms of their innovation performance. The study analyses the conditions for innovation in Germany and develops a ranking which compares Germany to other leading industrial nations and emerging countries in terms of economic policy, education, state and civil society, as well as in terms of an overall indicator. This provides a basis for innovation policy. The Innovation Indicator is a joint initiative of acatech, the National Academy of Science and Engineering, and the Federation of German Industries (BDI). The study is completed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) in collaboration with the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW). The Innovation Indicator was a joint initiative of BDI and the Deutsche Telekom Stiftung, before acatech joined as a cooperation partner in 2015.