EU Member States and their regions are continuing to improve their innovation performance, according to the 2023 edition of the European Innovation Scoreboard and the bi-yearly edition of the Regional Innovation Scoreboard. The European Innovation Scoreboard reveals a significant 8.5% improvement in innovation performance since 2016, with 20 Member States experiencing a notable rise in their innovation capabilities over the past year. Meanwhile, the Regional Innovation Scoreboard shows a rise in innovation performance for most EU regions since 2016, with some regions demonstrating excellence in countries that have relatively lower innovation performance overall.
Although the EU is performing slightly better than China at the global level, it is closing the performance gap with Australia, while the gap with Canada, the Republic of Korea, and the United States has widened.
Denmark has emerged as the top innovator, surpassing Sweden, which had held the position in previous years. Other Innovation Leaders include Finland, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Ireland, Cyprus, and France are classified as Strong innovators, while Hungary has progressed to become a Moderate innovator. France and Luxembourg have seen a decrease in innovation performance since 2016.
At the regional level, innovation performance has increased in 211 out of 239 regions since 2016. The most innovative region in Europe is Hovedstaden in Denmark, followed by Helsinki-Uusimaa in Finland and Oberbayern in Germany.
Despite progress in innovation, the EU still faces an innovation divide, primarily driven by geographic concentrations. Innovation Leaders and Strong innovators are predominantly located in Northern and Western Europe, while Moderate and Emerging innovators are found in Southern and Eastern Europe. Bridging this divide and fostering equitable growth across the EU are key objectives of the New European Innovation Agenda, which includes initiatives such as the Deep Tech Talent Initiative, the Innovation Talent Platform, and the Regional Innovation Valleys.
The European Innovation Scoreboard has been a benchmark for analyzing innovation performance since 2001, providing a comprehensive assessment of national and regional strengths and weaknesses. It helps shape policies to enhance innovation across Europe and adapt to the evolving global landscape.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_3683