USA #10 in Innovation. Switzerland #1, Sweden #2, Singapore #3.

[Quantess]

Top 10 Leaders in the overall Global Innovation Index 2012

The list of overall GII top 10 performers has changed little from last year. Switzerland, Sweden, and Singapore are followed in the top ten by Finland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, Hong Kong (China), Ireland, and the United States of America. Canada is the only country leaving the top 10 this year, mirroring weakening positions on all main GII innovation input and output pillars. The report shows that the U.S.A. continues to be an innovation leader but also cites relative shortfalls in areas such as education, human resources and innovation outputs as causing a drop in its innovation ranking.

Top 10 Leaders in the Global Innovation Index

Switzerland
Sweden
Singapore
Finland
United Kingdom
Netherlands
Denmark
Hong Kong (China)
Ireland
United States of America

http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2012/article_0014.html

Summary: The US may have an abundance of start-ups, patents and world-class universities, but when it comes to innovation, the Old World is showing it can make comparatively little go a long, long way.

This week saw the United Nations publish its annual snapshot of the world's most innovative countries - and it's all change at the top.

While the 2012 list spelled bad news for North America - the US slid down the top 10 list of global innovators and Canada dropped out altogether, the Scandinavian nations pretty much retained their enviable positions at the head of the table.

While Switzerland still leads the UN World Intellectual Property Office's (WIPO) Global Innovation Index, Sweden hung on to second spot, Finland moved up from fifth to fourth, and Denmark slipped from sixth to seventh. All three Scandinavian nations are commended by WIPO in its report on the index for their high levels of patenting and healthy royalty fees.

Other nations ahead of the US by in this year's index are Singapore (third) the UK (fifth), the Netherlands (sixth), Hong Kong (eighth) and as of this year, Ireland (ninth). Norway (14th) and Iceland (18th) are also in the top 20 of 141 nations ranked.
This week saw the United Nations publish its annual snapshot of the world's most innovative countries - and it's all change at the top.

While the 2012 list spelled bad news for North America - the US slid down the top 10 list of global innovators and Canada dropped out altogether, the Scandinavian nations pretty much retained their enviable positions at the head of the table.

While Switzerland still leads the UN World Intellectual Property Office's (WIPO) Global Innovation Index, Sweden hung on to second spot, Finland moved up from fifth to fourth, and Denmark slipped from sixth to seventh. All three Scandinavian nations are commended by WIPO in its report on the index for their high levels of patenting and healthy royalty fees.

Other nations ahead of the US by in this year's index are Singapore (third) the UK (fifth), the Netherlands (sixth), Hong Kong (eighth) and as of this year, Ireland (ninth). Norway (14th) and Iceland (18th) are also in the top 20 of 141 nations ranked.
http://www.zdnet.com/whats-making-scandinavia-more-innovative-than-the-us-7000000392/

[joshcryer]

1. Singapore is really booming.

I was shocked to learn just how much they were innovating, in the end. (Note: not about the indexes here, just what I've been reading on other sites and sources over time.)

The US being behind is not too surprising to me, but I expect if we merely implemented Swedish style policies (say, health care for all, end of the drug war) we'd be booming just as well!

[Quantess]

2. I think education has a lot to do with it.

Getting a higher education in the US is now based more on wealth than intellectual aptitude. Do we really want more G.W. Bush's in college?

Interesting you mention the drug war. Drugs are still illegal in Sweden. A swedish person told me there seemed to be more marijuana in the US, from his perspective. (I don't know whether that is true. Maybe.) Alcohol seems to be the favorite substance, but it is highly regulated and taxed, and only sold in the government run liquor stores. But, one of the first things I noticed, was far fewer cops! Where are all the police cars? I thought to myself. The society in Sweden seems healthier, overall, than in the USA. And Sweden takes in a lot of immigrants, too.

I think this Innovation ranking reflects the overall health of nations. IMHO.

[suffragette]

4. Good point about the relationship between education and innovation

and enlightening to see the list i n your OP

K&R

[TheMightyFavog]

5. And isn't Singapore the place that hangs people for drug smuggling?

And is practically a modern fascist state?

[Quantess]

6. Remember the young Anerican guy who was sentenced to caning

because he graffiti'd a garbage can, or something?

[Quantess]

3. Kick for Saturday readers.