Switzerland is the country with the greatest capacity for innovation

The Alpine country obtained the highest score in all seven indicators used to compile the “European Innovation Scoreboard” created by the EU

It does not belong to the European Union, indeed, it remains far from it, but the Swiss Confederation confirms itself as the country with the greatest capacity for innovation in the Old Continent.
The Alpine country has in fact obtained the best score in all seven indicators used to compile the continental ranking, carried out by the EU.
“Switzerland’s strengths are its attractive research systems, human resources and intellectual assets.”

The “European Innovation Scoreboard” 2021 (in English language)

“Among the top three indicators are international scientific co-publications, conspicuous foreign doctoral students, and lifelong learning,” says the European Innovation Scoreboard 2021, released in Brussels on Monday, June 21.
“More recently, innovation performance has declined, mainly due to reduced performance for government support for business research and development, employment in knowledge-intensive activities, relative exports of services, and environment-related technologies.”

2.6 billion in value from Zurich Innovation Park
The report ‘Economic Footprint Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich’ by BAK Economics (in German)

Statistics that also take account of non-EU states

The “European Innovation Scoreboard 2021”, which also takes into account Bern’s “external” performance, emphasized the continued convergence of results within the EU, with the lowest-performing countries growing faster than the highest-performing ones, thus closing the innovation gap between them.
As a result, the difference between the EU and Switzerland in terms of innovative strength has narrowed.
The former, which surpassed the United States of America for the second year in a row, still has a long way to go to catch up with global innovation leaders such as South Korea, Australia and Japan.
Within the EU, however, innovation performance continues to increase at a steady pace. For some years now, performance among the states under the Brussels umbrella has been converging – a trend that is, moreover, increasing.

Switzerland-Liechtenstein pact on scientific innovation
Bern, Zurich and Aargau focus on fiscal innovation

So many strengths and weaknesses here and there across Europe

In addition to Switzerland, another “innovation leader” is Sweden, followed by Finland, Denmark and Belgium.
Iceland, Israel, Norway and the United Kingdom are described as “strong innovators.”
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine, on the other hand, are so-called “emerging innovators.”
According to the report, Stockholm (in Sweden) emerges as the most innovative region or province in Europe, followed by Etelä-Suomi (Finland) and the District of Upper Bavaria (Germany). Hovedstaden (Denmark) is in fourth place and Zurich (Switzerland) in fifth.

Switzerland will have an ad hoc ambassador for… science
Yes of the Federal Council to the Swiss “Green Fintech” network

Without the UK, news for Luxembourg and Portugal

This year’s scoreboard is characterized by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU. This had a small impact on the average innovation performance of the EU, but did not affect the relevant results of member states in relation to the overall performance of the so-called “Europe of 27”.
This year, Luxembourg (previously a “strong innovator”) joins the group of “innovation leaders,” while Portugal (previously a “moderate innovator”) joins the group of strong innovators.
The “European Innovation Scoreboard” compares the innovation performance delivered in EU member states, other European states and their regional neighbors. In summary, it assesses the relative strengths and weaknesses of national innovation systems.
The “European Innovation Scoreboard” was first published in 2001 and is therefore a study that completed its 20th year just this year.
The findings, which cover data from 2019, highlight the opportunity for Brussels to better coordinate EU innovation policies, helping Europe improve its global competitiveness and strengthen the key role of innovation in overcoming the coronavirus pandemic and DOC “rivals” like Switzerland.

How the Swiss export industry focuses on innovation
More flexibility in promoting Swiss innovation

Commissioners Thierry Breton and Mariya Gabriel are optimistic

Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, said, “This year’s scoreboard shows that the EU is already a good place to do innovation, but we need to further intensify efforts across the Union to find comprehensive solutions to contain the virus and, at the same time, help Europe’s recovery from the crisis. More than ever, innovation is important because it is at the heart of our efforts to beat the Coronavirus pandemic.”

Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said, “The EU is leading the way out of the coronavirus crisis by stepping up its support for research efforts and bringing together different actors in innovation ecosystems, from the public and private sector, who can turn new ideas into reality and improve citizens’ lives. The post-Covid EU will be stronger and more united than ever by harnessing its creativity and innovation performance, as this year’s scoreboard highlights.”

Towards measures for a competitive Swiss economy
Switzerland gives “guarantees, trust, autonomy and neutrality”