Singapore tops global innovation ranking

View from Singapore's Merlion Park. Photo by Reuters

The country received the Global Innovation Champion award on Jan. 9 at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas, the U.S., according to The Straits Times newspaper.

This leap marks a significant rise from its 15th position in 2023 in the biennial rankings.

The U.S., New Zealand, Sweden, and Switzerland rounded out the top five.

The Global Innovation Scorecard, introduced in 2019, evaluates 74 countries and the European Union.

The rankings assess them on political, economic and demographic factors to determine their readiness for technological innovation.

The 2025 edition included an expanded range of metrics, with data sourced from organizations such as the World Trade Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

At the awards ceremony the association’s chief executive, Gary Shapiro, emphasized the importance of fostering innovation-friendly environments.

"That means not just evaluating the investment in cutting-edge sectors or red tape for start-ups, but also recognizing that countries that ensure freedom of speech create opportunities for workforce diversity and respect people’s fundamental freedoms.

"By celebrating the best of the best, our innovation champions, we encourage other countries to follow their lead."

In a Facebook post on Jan. 9, trade agency Enterprise Singapore expressed pride in the nation’s achievement, saying: "This top honor recognizes Singapore’s skilled workforce, advanced broadband infrastructure, entrepreneurial spirit, and openness to new technologies."