New innovation measure shows Canada lags on patents

A new innovation-quality index reveals Canada’s global standing in innovation is better than we might think, but that the country lacks the number of patents that other countries boast. The Global Innovation Index, produced by Cornell University, French business school INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organisation, puts Canada in the 11th spot, below traditional innovation leaders including the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Japan. The new index focuses on university education, patents and publication of scientific research. What makes this index different from others is that it tracks only each country’s top achievements, rather than its national totals or averages – the idea being that the top achievements make up the most meaningful innovations. In the university education and publication measures, Canada comes out on top. However, where the country loses points is in the patents category, where Canada ranks 19th in the world. Globe and Mail | Global Innovation Index