ArmInfo. According to the Global Innovation Index 2022, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which is considered one of the most reliable and recognized sources for assessing the innovativeness of the economy, Armenia ranks 80th, having lost 19 points over the previous two years.
It should be noted that WIPO experts analyzed the capabilities of innovation activity in about 132 economies of the world, while noting their strengths and weaknesses in this area. The index covers about 80 indicators, including those related to the political situation, education system, infrastructure and knowledge creation in each country.
According to the ranking, the institutional conditions for the development of innovations in Armenia (politics - regulations - business) are in 55th place on average, although the political environment (82) scores significantly lower than the business environment (44), while the regulatory environment ranks 54th.
Armenia's weakest performance is in Human capital and research. Human capital ranks 91st, the education- 85th, the higher education -87th, and the research and development secto100th. At the same time, infrastructural development in terms of innovative growth is in 80th place, market conditions (market difficulties) are in 85th place, "due to" a weak investment component (98th place). According to the WIPO ranking, the business opportunities for innovation development in Armenia are also quite low - 84th place. In this area, there has been a particular "failure" due to the lack of links between universities and research activities (R&D). At the same time, the sector of intellectual property protection completely sank to 122 places. Nevertheless, the authors of the study assessed the level of knowledge and technology in Armenia at a relatively high 71st place, and put the level of creative output at 73rd place.
As well-known Armenian economist, development director of Ameria group of companies Tigran Jrbashyan, in turn, noted, commenting on the index on his Facebook page, it is noteworthy that in 2 years Armenia lost 17 positions in terms of market complexity, 15 positions in business complexity, 26 positions in knowledge and technology and 17 positions in creative effectiveness.
However, the economist believes that this situation is caused by the lack of collected data and outdated information. Thus, according to WIPO, there were no 11 indicators when compiling the ranking of Armenia. According to the specialist, this means that in general there are no problems with receiving data, but in specialized international organizations they are not updated (GlobalEntrepreneurshipMonitor, Refinitiv, InternationalLabourOrganization, UNESCO). "I am sure that if these indicators are updated, Armenia will be able to significantly improve its ranking in the next edition of the Global Innovation Index," Tigran Jrbashyan stressed. Overall, Switzerland topped the ranking for the 12th time. It is followed by the USA and Sweden, which this year switched places, the UK retained the 4th place, and the Netherlands rounded out the top five in the ranking. Azerbaijan ranks 93rd, Georgia - 74th, Turkey - 37th, and Iran - 53rd. Russia is in 47th place, and Belarus is in 77th.
