Hong Kong rises to 14th in Global Innovation Index

It remained 8th in Innovation Input and rose to 21st in Innovation Output.

Hong Kong ranked fifth in Asia and rose one spot to 14th in the Global Innovation Index 2026.

The index, compiled by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, measures “innovation capabilities and achievements of economies” of 139 markets globally. The criteria includes institutions, human capital and research infrastructure, credit, investment, collaboration, knowledge creation, and creative outputs.

The city remained at 8th in the Innovation sub-index, whilst its ranking in the Innovation Output sub-index rose by one place to 21st.

The government said that it is pleased to see the good progress in the index, noting that expediting the development of innovation and technology (I&T) has been a policy priority.

It also emphasised its commitment to developing the city into an international I&T centre, following the directions set out in the First Five-Year Plan.

The government plans to expedite alignment with key national strategies in technology and establish a Hong Kong-specific framework for a new industrialisation system.

It also plans to implement the AI+ Initiative by expanding computing infrastructure, helping small and medium-sized enterprises adopt artificial intelligence (AI) and promoting the use of AI across different sectors.

The government said it will leverage links with mainland China and global markets to strengthen its role as an international science and technology hub and attract global I&T resources and talent through the Greater Bay Area.