Morocco has climbed to second place in Africa in innovation with a score of 28.8 following Mauritius with 30.6, according to the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII) report published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Switzerland ranks first in the GII for the 14th consecutive year. Sweden and the United States (US) maintain 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively. Singapore (4th) moves further into the top 5, followed by the United Kingdom (UK) (5th). China is still the only middle-income economy within the GII top 30 – moving up the ranking to edge closer to the top 10, reaching 11th position.
The report also showed that Morocco has joined the group of rapidly advancing middle-income economies within the top 70 since 2013.
Morocco’s Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation has highlighted in a press release the Kingdom’s significant progress, now ranking 66th globally among 133 economies, an improvement of four positions from the previous edition.
The report added that Morocco is among the highest risers over the past 10 years. Morocco ranks 1st globally in Industrial designs and ranks in the top 30 on Expenditure on education (20th), Intangible asset intensity (22nd), Gross capital formation (27th), High-tech manufacturing (27th) and Trademarks (30th).
The ministry added that the National Plan for Accelerating the Transformation of the Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation Ecosystem (PACTE ESRI 2030) has been developed through an inclusive co-construction approach.
PACTE ESRI 2030 seeks to strengthen innovation achievements and provide innovative solutions to identified challenges.
Abdellatif Miraoui, the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation expressed his heartfelt congratulations to all operators and stakeholders in innovation, as well as to all partners, for their efforts and remarkable accomplishments that firmly position Morocco on the path to becoming a knowledge-based nation and a hub for innovation.
Established in 2007, the GII assesses the performance of the innovation ecosystem in over 133 economies, based on 78 indicators that cover key aspects of innovation, including institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, business sophistication, and knowledge and technology products, as well as creative products. These indicators are divided into inputs which include 53 indicators and outputs with 25 indicators.