Global Competetiveness Report

Country Rankings
Sustainable Innovation & Competitiveness
Countries listed amongst the lower ranks of
the sustainable innovation & competitiveness
list are likely to face obstacles in achieving
sustainable and sustained economic growth.
Some of the ingredients of a successful
sustainable development implementation,
however, require other factors in order to kick
start development (e.g. factor A is a
requirement to achieve B, while A is required
as a prerequisite to achieve B. In such a
situation, A cannot be achieved due to the
absence of B, and B cannot be achieved
because of the lack of A). Significant cooperated
efforts on a wide front of issues and
political will for implementation is required in
order to escape this cycle, a considerable
task for a country. However, over the last
three or four decades some countries in Asia
have proven that such achievements are not
impossible (for example South Korea,
Malaysia, China).
Amongst the current (and future) obstacles
facing countries characterized by low
sustainable competitiveness are:
• Limited availability and quality of
education (number of students per
teacher, teachers education & motivation,
facilities and materials), leading to limited
R&D capabilities and a lack of highly
qualified workforce, in turn limiting
economic opportunities and development
• Insufficient R&D spending, limiting
opportunities to develop value-added
industries
• Lack of modern transport and
communication infrastructure, leading to
limited and costly access to markets
• Limited health and sanitation infrastructure
Many of the above obstacles are interlinked
and therefore challenging to overcome.
Sustainable Innovation
Country Rank Score
Romania 45 46.2
Oman 46 46.1
Turkey 47 45.9
Bahrain 48 45.0
Uruguay 49 44.7
Colombia 50 44.6
Poland 51 44.5
Saudi Arabia 52 44.3
Algeria 53 43.9
Bulgaria 54 43.5
Tunisia 55 43.4
Uzbekistan 56 43.4
Greece 57 43.3
Latvia 58 43.2
Guyana 59 43.2
Jordan 60 43.1
Argentina 61 43.0
Iran 62 43.0
Sri Lanka 63 42.8
Serbia 64 42.7
Venezuela 65 42.5
Mauritius 66 42.2
Ecuador 67 42.1
Paraguay 68 41.7
Slovakia 69 41.1
Kyrgistan 70 40.9
Georgia 71 40.5
Mongolia 72 40.4
Lebanon 73 40.3
Kazakhstan 74 40.3
Peru 75 40.1
Brunei 76 40.1
Kuwait 77 40.0
Kosovo 78 39.9
Cuba 79 39.6
Bosnia and Herzegovina 80 38.9
South Africa 81 38.3
Malaysia 82 38.2
Bhutan 83 38.1
Suriname 84 37.8
Tajikistan 85 37.5
Ukraine 86 37.3
India 87 37.3
Syria 88 37.2
The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index
51