China has entered the top 10 in the United Nations’ Global Innovation Index (GII) for the first time in 2025, bumping Germany out of the elite group. This marks a significant milestone as China steps up its research and development efforts with strong private sector investment.
Switzerland remains in first place—a position it has held since 2011—followed by Sweden, the United States, South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark. China now occupies 10th place out of 139 economies assessed across 78 metrics related to innovation output and capability.
In 2024, China was responsible for roughly one-quarter of all international patent filings, more than any other country. Meanwhile, countries like the United States, Japan, and Germany saw slight declines in their contribution to patent applications. The survey also projects a slowdown in global R&D growth—from 2.9% last year to about 2.3%—marking the weakest growth rate since the aftermath of the 2010 financial crisis.
While Germany now sits at 11th place, experts suggest that its loss of rank doesn’t mean it’s lost its innovative edge. However, they note that Germany needs to accelerate its transition toward digital innovation to maintain long-term competitiveness.
