In the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2026 released today (September 29) by the World Intellectual Property Organization, Hong Kong's ranking rose further by one place to 14th globally among 139 economies, and remained fifth in Asia.

     As regards the two sub-indices under the GII, Hong Kong's ranking with respect to the "Innovation Input" sub-index remained at eighth globally, and its ranking in the "Innovation Output" sub-index rose by one place to 21st.

     Hong Kong's scores in all five pillars under the "Innovation Input" sub-index were higher than the averages of the high-income group, with "Market Sophistication" ranking second globally, and "Human Capital and Research", "Institutions" and "Infrastructure" rising to rank sixth, seventh and 11th globally respectively. As for sub-pillars, Hong Kong continued to top the ranking in "Credit", and ranked among the global top 10 in many areas, including "Tertiary Education" (third), "Information and Communication Technology (ICT)" (fourth), "Investment" (fourth), "Institutional Environment" (ninth) and "Business Environment" (10th). Data also showed that Hong Kong's gross expenditure on research and development (R&D) and the number of researchers continued to rise. 

     As for the "Innovation Output" sub-index, Hong Kong's ranking in the "Creative Outputs" pillar rose by two places to 15th globally, and that in "Knowledge and Technology Outputs" pillar rose one place further to 29th. Data also showed that Hong Kong's number of patents and mobile app creation continued to increase.

     A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today said, "We are pleased to see the good progress Hong Kong has achieved in the GII. Expediting the development of innovation and technology (I&T) has been a policy priority of this Government. Following the directions set out in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the HKSAR (2026-2030) (Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan), the Government is fully committed to developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre. Among other things, Hong Kong will enhance the institutional framework for I&T development, expedite the alignment with key national strategies in technology, and develop the new 'three major I&T parks and five key R&D institutions' paradigm. In particular, the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone and the San Tin Technopole will form a co-ordinated development at the upstream, midstream and downstream levels, jointly creating a comprehensive industrial ecosystem covering R&D, commercialisation, pilot and mass production. Hong Kong will also advance new industrialisation having regard to local circumstances, with a view to establishing a framework with Hong Kong characteristics for the development of a new industrialisation system, as well as take forward the AI+ Initiative on all fronts, enhance the layout of computing infrastructure, support small and medium-sized enterprises in accelerating their adoption of AI, and empower different sectors of the economy through AI technology. Meanwhile, Hong Kong will leverage the advantage of being closely connected to the Mainland and the world to develop an international hub for science and technology co-operation, as well as deepen the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), thereby attracting global I&T resources and talent. The HKSAR Government will strive to realise the vision in Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan that Hong Kong will basically have established an international I&T centre based in the GBA, serving the entire country and being connected to the world, after 2030."

     The GII is a ranking on the innovation capabilities and achievements of economies around the world. Its evaluation criteria cover multiple aspects, including institutions, human capital and research infrastructure, credit, investment, collaboration, knowledge creation, absorption and diffusion, and creative outputs.

     The GII consists of two sub-indices: "Innovation Input" and "Innovation Output". There are five pillars under the "Innovation Input" sub-index, namely "Institutions", "Human Capital and Research", "Infrastructure", "Market Sophistication", and "Business Sophistication"; and two pillars under the "Innovation Output" sub-index, namely "Knowledge and Technology Outputs" and "Creative Outputs". Each of the above pillars is further broken down into three sub-pillars.

Ends/Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:55

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