Hanoi, September 18, 2025 — The Europe Today: Vietnam has been ranked 44th out of 139 economies in the 2025 Global Innovation Index (GII), released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva on Tuesday, maintaining the same position as last year.
Within the lower middle-income group, Vietnam placed second after India (38th), while among ASEAN countries, it ranked third, trailing Singapore and Malaysia but overtaking Thailand. Only three upper middle-income countries—China (10th), Malaysia (34th), and Turkey (43rd)—surpassed Vietnam, with the rest of the top-ranked economies being high-income nations.
According to WIPO, Vietnam remains among the fastest climbers in the GII since 2013, advancing 32 places over 12 years. Alongside India, it is the only economy to consistently perform above expectations for its development level for 15 consecutive years, underscoring efficiency in converting innovation inputs into tangible outputs.
The report highlighted Vietnam’s notable progress in high-tech exports, high-tech manufacturing, and research publications. It placed in the global top 10 for labour productivity growth (4th), smartphone app creation (7th), and business-financed R&D spending (8th). Vietnam also ranked among the top three fastest-growing economies in labour productivity (2014–2024), alongside China and Ethiopia.
From 2017 to 2025, the country’s input sub-index improved from 71st to 50th, while its output ranking consistently stayed within the top 40, reflecting steady gains in its ability to transform resources into innovation results. Growth was also recorded in electric vehicles and 5G coverage.
This year’s GII is led by Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore, followed by the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Denmark, and China, which entered the top 10 for the first time.
WIPO Director General Daren Tang emphasized that innovation ecosystems must be nurtured through “thoughtful policies, meaningful investments and cross-sector collaboration.” He stressed that economies able to adapt quickly to global shifts—such as digital transformation and sustainability—are gaining ground.
The report cautioned that many economies still face challenges in scaling innovation ecosystems, commercialising research, and integrating into global value chains. It urged greater investment in long-term R&D, education, finance for start-ups, and stronger university–industry partnerships to fully unlock innovation potential.
