Science, Technology & Industry Scoreboard Analyses Global Innovation And Growth

The tenth edition of the OECD Science, Technology and Industry (STI) Scoreboard has been published this week by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. With over 180 comparable indicators, it analyses trends in science, technology, innovation and industrial performance in OECD and major non-OECD countries (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, Indonesia, People’s Republic of China and South Africa).

The report shows that the United States is leading the way for research. Forty out of the Top 50 universities with the highest research impact are located in the U.S. and the rest are in Europe. Research and development spending in the U.S. was the highest amount of the countries compared ($400bn in 2009), with China and Japan coming second and third. The report also states that innovation is critical for effectively overcoming the current economic challenges:

It will play a major role in lifting economies out of the economic crisis and finding new and sustainable sources of growth and competitiveness.

This video overview of patent quality shows which countries are ahead in technological innovation. There has been an average decline of 20% in quality patent filings over the last two decades. The U.S., Germany and Japan are leading the way as innovators with the highest number of inventor’s patents.

STI Scoreboard 2011 summary (PDF)

OECD