2014 Innovation Indicator - Germany Secures International Position

Germany is still in a good shape when it comes to innovation strength. In an international comparison of 35 industrial nations, Germany ranked sixth. The leading countries, Switzerland and Singapore, remain well ahead of Germany, while the countries on positions three to five, i.e. Sweden, Belgium and Finland, are almost within reach. This is one of the results of the 2014 Innovation Indicator. The study was conducted by the Mannheim Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW), the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (Fraunhofer ISI), and the Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology at the University of Maastricht (MERIT).

The study has been published by the Telekom Foundation and the Federation of German Industries (BDI) since 2005. It sheds light on the areas that are of key importance for a nation’s innovation capability: economy, science, education, government institutions, and civil society. The current study focuses on a comparison of the three major economic areas of North America, Asia, and Europe. Europe was able to improve its innovation performance at a slow, albeit steady pace. Twelve of the 20 most innovative countries in the world are European countries.

The German economy dropped from position three in 2013 to position five in the current ranking. However, Germany maintains a strong international position that is largely based on innovation strength. Regarding education, the indicator value for Germany has improved for the second consecutive year. This increase is primarily the result of improved PISA results, further internationalisation of university education, and a growing number of doctoral graduations in natural science and engineering subjects. With 48 points, however, Germany ranks eleventh in this comparison. Education therefore remains Germany's weak spot in the Innovation Indicator.

Placed ninth, the German science system has improved its innovation performance in the 2014 Innovation Indicator compared to the previous year. The government contribution to the German innovation performance has also improved, continuing the positive trend that started in 2002. Regarding the general framework conditions for innovation in society, Germany comes in eleventh among the middle-ranking innovation-oriented national economies.

For further information please contact

Dr. Christian Rammer, Phone +49 (0)621/1235-184, E-mail rammer@zew.de