Switzerland has been awarded top spot in a global innovation league table.
It is the sixth year in a row that it has been recognised as the world’s leading country for innovation.
The Global Innovation Index 2016, released on Monday, ranked 128 countries for their innovation capabilities and results.
Following on from Switzerland were Sweden, the UK, the US and Finland. The rest of the top ten were Singapore, Ireland, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany.
It is typically the developed nations which score high on the Index, with 15 of the top 25 being in Europe, aided by “comparatively strong institutions and well-developed infrastructure”.
But Spain, Italy and Portugal failed to enter the top 25 rankings, coming 28th, 29th, and 30th respectively.
Switzerland files a high number of patents, has quality universities which collaborate with industry on research projects, and is home to many global research and development companies, said the report’s country profile.
In March the European Patents Office (EPO) said Switzerland made more patent applications per capita than any other nation in 2015.
Switzerland boasts two federal institutions devoted to technology, has developed its industrial infrastructure, and attracts international companies.
The report further cited Switzerland’s ecological sustainability as another strong point. Despite these kudos, Switzerland was only in 57th place for ease of starting a business and 53rd for obtaining credit. It was found to be easier, in fact, to start up a business in Portugal than in Switzerland, but it ranked nearly 30 places behind Switzerland in ease of getting credit.
