China topped the world in knowledge and technology outputs this year in a leading innovation index, driven in large part by its scientific productivity, patent applications and hi-tech exports.
Despite its strong showing in sci-tech output, China came in 10th overall in the World Intellectual Property Organisation (Wipo)’s annual Global Innovation Index (GII) released last month.
It was Switzerland that took the top spot in the ranking for the 15th year in a row, raising questions among some in China.
China entered the top 10 for the first time this year, coming behind Switzerland, Sweden, the US, South Korea, Singapore, Britain, Finland, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Some Chinese internet users have questioned the methodology and authority of the index and wondered how Switzerland was the leading innovation economy in the world.
“It’s probably the same as the international university rankings back then, tailor-made for the US and Western countries,” read one popular comment under a report by the Shanghai-based news outlet Guancha.
The index published by Geneva-based Wipo, an agency under the United Nations, is a widely recognised ranking that is now in its 18th edition.