Singapore ranks fifth in 2026 Global Innovation Index

This was underpinned by strong institutions, talent, and research capabilities.

Singapore ranked fifth amongst 139 countries in the 2026 Global Innovation Index (GII), retaining its position in the global top five for the fourth consecutive year.

Published annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the GII assesses countries’ innovation capabilities and performance using 79 indicators covering the conditions that support innovation and the results generated.

Singapore retained its first-place ranking for Innovation Inputs and was ranked amongst the global leaders in 12 of the index’s 79 indicators, up from 10 indicators in 2025.

Its strong performance in Innovation Inputs reflected the country’s business and innovation environment, including trusted institutions, access to talent and research capabilities, and an ecosystem that supports investment, the development of new ideas and business growth.

Singapore also performed strongly against other high-income economies and countries in the South East Asia, East Asia and Oceania (SEAO) region.

The country ranked amongst the global top 20 for intellectual property (IP) receipts and payments as a share of total trade, as well as international patent applications relative to the size of its economy.

These results reflect Singapore’s participation in global IP and knowledge flows, including importing IP, developing knowledge domestically and enabling IP to be used across borders.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in a video message at the GII 2026 launch in Geneva that the government has invested about 1% of GDP each year in research and innovation for more than two decades and will maintain this commitment.

“Funding alone, however, is not enough. Innovation flourishes when people have the confidence to experiment, take risks, and invest for the long term,” Wong said.

He added that Singapore must preserve opportunities for ideas and people to flow and collaborate despite a more contested global environment.

Tan Kong Hwee, chief executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), said the country’s GII performance reflects an environment designed to help businesses innovate and grow.

“IPOS contributes to this by building a trusted and connected IP ecosystem that helps businesses protect, manage and commercialise their IP and intangible assets,” Tan said.

He said IPOS will continue strengthening Singapore’s IP ecosystem under the Singapore IP Strategy (SIPS) 2030 to help businesses protect, manage and commercialise their IP and expand internationally.

Singapore will also continue supporting businesses and innovators in turning research and ideas into products, services and solutions, the government said.