Vietnam Rises in the 2026 Global Innovation Index Rankings
Vietnam climbed one spot to 43rd in the 2026 GII results and discussed its innovation success at an international workshop.
Vietnam rose one spot to 43rd among 139 economies in the 2026 Global Innovation Index. At a workshop organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology and WIPO, the country's innovation success was discussed, and it was emphasized that mastery of technology and R&D investments need to be increased.
GII 2026 Results and Rankings
Vietnam rose one spot to 43rd among 139 countries and economies in the 2026 Global Innovation Index. This result demonstrates its efficiency in converting resources into innovative outputs, while its innovation output ranking improved from 37th to 35th.
Purpose of the Workshop
A workshop was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and international organizations in Geneva. At the meeting, GII results and methodological adjustments were analyzed, and targets for 2030 and 2045 were discussed.
Historical Development and Achievements
Vietnam's GII ranking has progressed by 16 spots since 2016. The country ranks second among 36 lower- and middle-income economies and is considered one of the two countries that has continuously demonstrated exceptional innovation efforts over the past 16 years.
Current Paradoxes and Challenges
Despite having a high share of high-tech exports, the country faces the paradox of low intellectual property revenues. R&D investments account for only about 0.5 percent of GDP, while the capacity to master technology remains limited.
Future Solution Proposals
In order to increase the quality of growth, it is necessary to increase R&D investments and develop highly qualified human resources. In addition, perfecting technology transfer and mechanisms to benefit from intellectual property is of great importance.