New edition of WIPO’s Global Innovation Index shows indicators for Brazil in 2024

New edition of WIPO’s Global Innovation Index shows indicators for Brazil in 2024

On September 26, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) launched its Global Innovation Index 2024 (GII 2024), a report that analyzes and ranks 133 world economies according to their innovation capabilities, one of the main indicators of the innovation ecosystem in the world. The document measures innovation based on around 80 indicators and criteria that include: institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, credit, investment, links; creation, absorption and diffusion of knowledge; and creative results. In the most recent edition, Brazil ranks 50th globally, leading the ranking among the 20 economies of Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, Brazil is also in 6th place among the 34 upper-middle-income economies, to which it belongs.

Firstly, the report takes stock of Brazil’s performance in the GII 2024 and reveals the country’s intermediate position in the global ranking. Between 2020 and 2024, Brazil showed fluctuations in the index, with a margin varying between 47th and 52nd place in 2024. Throughout this period, the country performed better in terms of innovation inputs, which include factors such as funding for innovation, public policies, infrastructure, education and human capital, than in terms of innovation results (outputs), which measure the effectiveness of these inputs in generating innovative products and services. In 2024, Brazil ranks 58th in innovation inputs, showing an improvement on the previous year. In terms of innovation results, Brazil remains in 49th position, the same as in 2023.

Next, according to the Global Innovation Tracker 2024, a component of the WIPO report that shows the evolution of short-term indicators, in 2024 Brazil showed advances in seven indicators, while six showed setbacks. Among the indicators that have improved are those linked to the adoption of new technologies and the expansion of their practical application, for example in the field of basic sanitation. However, other indicators have worsened, such as those related to investment in science and innovation (here, for example, it indicates a decrease in the number of international patent filings and the number of scientific publications).

The Global Innovation Index also explores other important information about the innovation ecosystem in Brazil. It first looks at the relationship between income levels (GDP per capita) and innovation performance (GII score) and indicates that, in relation to GDP, Brazil is performing above expectations for its level of development. The GII also analyzes the relationship between innovation inputs and innovation outputs, indicating that Brazil produces more innovation outputs in relation to its level of investment in innovation.

The report also ranks the best innovation performers in Brazil. According to the index, the largest global corporate investors in R&D in Brazil are, respectively, the Brazilian Aircraft Company (Embraer), the technology company Totvs and the electrical equipment manufacturer WEG. According to the document, the Brazilian brands with the highest global brand value are Itaú, Branco do Brasil and Bradesco, respectively. It is also worth noting the ranking of Brazilian brands that have made the most use of intangible assets in Brazil, including the multinational mining company Vale; the Nu Holdings banking platform; and Petrobras. Finally, GII 2024 lists the largest unicorn companies (technology startups that reach a market value of more than US$1 billion before going public) in Brazil, led by the QuintoAndar housing platform, followed by C6 BANK and Creditas financial services.

Finally, the report indicates that Brazil has 1 cluster, i.e. places that have a global leadership position in science and technology activities through the filing of patents and the publication of scientific articles, among the top 100 of the Global Innovation Index. In this respect, the state of São Paulo ranked 73rd among the world’s largest S&T centers in 2024.

The WIPO report can be accessed via the link: Brazil ranking in the Global Innovation Index 2024

Note: For quick release, this English version is provided by automated translation without human review.