2025 CTA

Global
Innovation
Scorecard
JANUARY 2025
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2025 Global Innovation Scorecard | All rights reserved. | cta.tech 2

Table of
Contents
1. Welcome Letter 4

2. Executive Summary 7

3. Looking Ahead 10

4. Overview 12

5. Rankings by Category, and Data 16

6. Methodology 38
1 Welcome
Welcome
The Global Innovation Scorecard diversity and create opportunities for start-up environments in unexpected new ones more quickly than we
measures and thus encourages all types of people in its workforce? corners of countries and the globe. would have imagined possible.
innovation improving the human Does it respect freedom of speech?
condition. As CTA is an American Does it afford people access to Steve Jobs told engineers that The 2025 Global Innovation scores
association, the criteria selected justice and a transparent legal computers will save time for all 74 countries plus the European
admittedly reflect a United States system? Does it enforce laws fairly humans. Today, advances in AI Union in 16 categories, with 56
viewpoint. We recognize that bias, on companies large and small? save users whole lifetimes every indicators. Where legislators and
but counter it with transparency, day. The ongoing advancement of regulators make countries open for
reliance on third-party sources and At no time since World War II have AI requires government to establish business and create fair rules that
an eagerness to accept input on these questions been more meaningful the guardrails, but ensure that they allow everyone to compete on a level
the criteria for future editions. For or more urgent. As the challenges of allow entrepreneurs market entry and playing field, innovation thrives.
example, the 2027 edition may add war, disease, rising nationalism, trade experimentation, and don’t demand
measurements reflecting the nascent restrictions and aging populations government approval at every turn. As always, the countries that rank
trend of restricting technology and reshape the world, innovators have highest demonstrate the best of
even use of artificial intelligence to more problems than ever to solve. The same spirit of innovation has collaboration between government
preserve jobs. We need your input! Increasingly, widespread high-speed brought the distributed nature of the and industry, producing new
internet allows revolutionary new internet to the mechanism of payments, technologies that enrich lives and
In the 2025 edition of the Global technologies such as telehealth and introducing faster and cheaper means raise living standards across the
Innovation Scorecard, CTA measures the safety and freedom of self-driving of settlement and driving the greatest world. Governments must allow
countries on the basis of the political, cars. The availability of broadband has revolution in finance in 400 years. domestic innovators to sprout and
economic and demographic realities also made workers more mobile than As always, innovation thrives in foreign innovators to compete.
that make them better places to invent ever, making remote offices a reality moments of adversity, upending the
the future. Does a country welcome for millions, and spawning vibrant winners of earlier eras and creating

2025 Global Innovation Scorecard | All rights reserved. | cta.tech 5

 Technological innovation always
chases the most challenging human
problems in health, our environment,
food and water availability, mobility
and communities. But governments
need to encourage innovators by
providing them an environment in
which to experiment, fail, pivot and
succeed. As I share in CTA’s latest
book, Pivot or Die, government,
business and our personal decisions
make the difference on our path to Gary Shapiro
success. Success, for us, means
ensuring that humanity continues
to benefit from the innovations that
CEO & Vice Chair
solve our biggest problems.
Consumer Technology
The future belongs to those who Association (CTA)®
embrace it, and the 2025 Global
Innovation Scorecard offers a glimpse
of which countries they might be.

2025 Global Innovation Scorecard | All rights reserved. | cta.tech 6

2 Executive
Summary
Executive Summary
In its 2025 Global Innovation Scorecard, CTA evaluates more countries on more metrics than ever before. We
compare 74 countries, including the entire European Union and each of its individual members, on a grand
total of 56 distinct indicators across 16 categories.

This year, we introduce new For the first time, the European to apply technology freely to We have not witnessed a trade
categories and raise standards Union as a whole has fallen off solve their problems on their own war on this scale in almost
in some existing ones, making it the winners’ platform, primarily terms, or does it impose top-down a century, and it challenges
more challenging than ever to earn as a result of policies that impose standards on them to favor or leaders to preserve the
our highest honor — Innovation arbitrary restrictions on where disfavor specific technologies? institutions that produced a global
Champion status. Congratulations data is routed and stored, and tech boom and the greatest
to the 2025 Innovation Champions: that limit freedom on social media Meanwhile, as a highly prosperity in world history.
platforms. Other vibrant countries counterproductive trade war
Australia, Austria, Canada, have also slid in the rankings. escalates, countries have raised Yet we also see causes for
the Czech Republic, Denmark, tariffs. In doing so, they have hope. Soviet republics during
Estonia, Finland, France, This dynamic reflects trends hurt the buying power of people the Great Depression have since
Germany, Iceland, Ireland, around the world: The 2025 in many nations, and destroyed become sovereign nations. Freed
Israel, Japan, Luxembourg, Global Scorecard comes at a jobs by cutting off businesses from the yoke of oppression
the Netherlands, New Zealand, historical inflection point, when from global markets when trading and central planning, they
Norway, Portugal, Singapore, philosophies on innovation have partners retaliate with new tariffs. continue to make great strides,
South Korea, Spain, Sweden, once again come into conflict. We consider these issues in our becoming some of the most
Switzerland, the United Kingdom Does a government allow people Global Tech Trade category. dynamic innovation economies.
and the United States.

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Georgia makes its Scorecard In large industrialized economies, land area and sparse population, That combination of freedom, risk
debut as an Innovation Leader, blockchain enables businesses Kazakhstan has been making and reward has produced real
joining Latvia and Lithuania in that to gain new insights and secure strides in telemedicine for progress in the human condition
tier, along with healthy Eastern supply chains. In the developing decades? That Portugal boasts by building on that foundation;
European tech economies such world, blockchain gives property a flourishing blockchain start-up innovation will only take us further.
as Slovakia and Poland. owners a way to document title to environment? That large financial
their land for perhaps the first time. institutions in several countries
Meanwhile, the EU’s fall from And across the globe, artists and are exploring smart contracts
the Innovation Champion tier musicians can use blockchain to as a cheaper means of foreign
results from policies that impose find new ways to market their works. exchange to promote global trade?
arbitrary restrictions on where
data is routed and stored (Cross- Countries which rely on the rule of In looking over this latest
Border Data Flows), and freedom law, freedom of expression, and Scorecard, we hope leaders will
on social media platforms diverse populations and workforces learn from both the mistakes and
(Digital Platform Friendliness). perform better than those that do the successes of others. As every
not. Governments that make it start-up founder appreciates,
This year we also added a easier for their people to start new whatever problem you’re trying
category to address one of businesses drive greater innovation. to solve, the chances are that
the most exciting emerging someone, somewhere else is
technologies today: Blockchain Each of the 74 countries in the also working on it. The greatest
Friendly. The proliferation of 2025 Scorecard makes unique, achievement of our internetworked
blockchain technologies brings the often fascinating contributions societies is providing instantaneous
democratizing forces of the internet to our collective technological access to one another’s ideas,
to new corners of the world. progress. As a result of its huge anywhere on the planet.

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3 Looking
Ahead

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Looking Ahead
We stand at the gates of real breakthroughs in cybersecurity of their connected devices. The EU,
health, mobility and sustainability. Though none of us Finland, Germany and Singapore have already
knows what tomorrow will bring, we are seeing the implemented cybersecurity labeling programs,
rise of new and transformative technologies. Large and other nations plan to institute their own or
language models (LLMs) and generative AI are negotiate them on the basis of bilateral or multilateral
helping developers to code, doctors analyze medical agreements. CTA believes such programs should be
imagery, serving customers and acting as digital voluntary, based on established technical standards,
assistants. Quantum computing can revolutionize and supported by mutual recognition agreements.
logistics, secure communications, sensors, and more. CTA will continue to monitor these efforts closely,
and will consider scoring them in a new category in
We need data to realize the full benefits of AI. That the next edition of our Global Innovation Scorecard.
demands robust approaches on issues such as
cybersecurity and privacy. Cyber risks pose a
great and growing threat. Innovators take these
threats seriously, and created and use tools to
improve product security and protect consumers.

In the United States, CTA has helped lead a

public-private effort to inform consumers about the

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4 Overview

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Overview

INNOVATION CHAMPIONS Australia INNOVATION LEADERS Belgium

Austria Brazil
Canada Bulgaria
Czech Republic Chile
Denmark Costa Rica
The 2025 Global Innovation Champions are the top-scoring The 21 Innovation Leaders earn high grades in most of the
Estonia Croatia
countries in the world, earning high marks for diverse and Finland 16 categories on the Scorecard. Most of these countries Cyprus
highly skilled workforces, fast broadband connections, France have relatively high degrees of economic and personal European Union
a friendly climate for entrepreneurs, and an openness to Germany freedom, enjoy well-educated workforces, and have high Georgia
new technologies and business models. They welcome Iceland levels of entrepreneurial activity and R&D investment. This Greece
Ireland Hungary
Web 3.0 technologies, boasting vibrant blockchain group includes industrialized economies such as Belgium
Israel Italy
startup environments, and place no undue restrictions on Japan and Italy, growing Pacific economies such as Malaysia and Latvia
cryptocurrencies. They allow the testing and operation of Luxembourg the Philippines — which continues to champion free trade Lithuania
increasingly advanced self-driving cars. The 25 Innovation Netherlands — and advancing Eastern European economies including Malaysia
Champions include longtime global leaders such as the New Zealand Bulgaria, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Malta
Norway Philippines
United States and United Kingdom, economic heavyweights
Portugal Poland
such as Germany and Japan, South Korea, and smaller Singapore Romania
economies including Estonia, Ireland and Israel. South Korea Slovakia
Spain Slovenia
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States

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Overview

INNOVATION ADOPTERS Argentina MODEST INNOVATORS Algeria

China Ecuador
Colombia Egypt
Ghana Ethiopia
India Kenya
The 20 Innovation Adopters show strong pro-innovation The lowest tier on the Scorecard also has the fewest
Indonesia Nigeria
policies and trends in some categories, but not most. Bright Jordan members. The nine Modest Innovators have the greatest Pakistan
spots include the diversity of the workforce in Mexico, the Kazakhstan room for improvement. Whether that means increasing the Rwanda
business-friendly tax policies of Kazakhstan, and growing Mexico ethnic and gender diversity of their workforces, loosening Tunisia
tech giants such as India. Some Innovation Adopters could Morocco restrictions on the ownership and use of digital assets or
Panama
create greater opportunities for technical education, and eliminating barriers to entrepreneurship and innovation in
Peru
most could take steps to make it easier to establish and Russian Federation one or more other areas. And while our Modest Innovators
operate businesses. Saudi Arabia have more to do to deliver the benefits of vibrant technology
South Africa industries, we see encouraging signs in fields including
Thailand telemedicine.
Turkey
Ukraine
Uruguay
Vietnam

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5 Rankings by
Category

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Rankings by Category

The following pages present the leading countries in every area of evaluation. The
Scorecard categories — 16 in all, based on 56 qualitative and quantitative metrics —
span a broad range of sectors and activities that fuel the development of new ideas.
Ranking our results by category reveals the sheer diversity of global innovation. Some
countries have dynamic startup economies but stifling regulations restrain them. Others
may lack broadband access and mature R&D ecosystems, but have been quick to
embrace technologies such as self-driving vehicles, telehealth and blockchain.

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Categories

INNOVATION ENHANCERS POSITIVE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT

Acts Green Allows Cross-Border Data Flows

Actual Diversity Friendly to Digital Platforms

Fundamental Freedoms Maintains Pro-Innovation Legal Environment

Invests in Skilled Workforce

Promotes Resilience & Digital Transparency

Encourages Telehealth

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Categories

POSITIVE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT TECHNOLOGIES OF THE FUTURE

Encourages Broadband Blockchain Friendly

Encourages Global Tech Trade Welcomes Self-Driving Vehicles

R&D Friendly

Start-Up & Small Business Friendly

Tax Friendly

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Innovation Enhancers
Top 10 Grades by Category
Promotes
Resilience &
Encourages Fundamental Invests in Skilled Digital
Acts Green Actual Diversity Telehealth Freedoms Workforce Transparency

Australia Luxembourg Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, New Zealand Saudi Arabia Denmark
Canada China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia,
Australia Switzerland Canada Iceland
Denmark
Estonia Estonia, Finland, Georgia, India,
Canada Finland Israel Finland
Finland Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Jordan,
Iceland New Zealand Sweden Singapore Singapore
Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg Singapore Denmark Kazakhstan Sweden
New Zealand Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco,
Norway Iceland New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Ireland Malaysia Luxembourg
Portugal Peru, The Philippines, Portugal,
Switzerland Luxembourg Morocco Switzerland
Spain
Sweden Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,
Philippines Estonia Denmark Australia
Switzerland Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,
United Kingdom Norway Norway United States Germany
Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay,
United States Sweden Iceland Australia United States
Uruguay European Union

NOTE: When sufficient data are not publicly available for a country, it receives a null grade in a category. Although null grades do not affect a
2025 Global Innovation Scorecard | All rights reserved. | cta.tech
country’s overall standing on the Scorecard, a country cannot qualify as a Top 10 Performer in a category for which it receives a null grade.
20
Positive Regulatory Environment
Top 10 Grades by Category
Allows Maintains
Cross-Border Friendly to Pro-Innovation
Data Flows Digital Platforms Legal Environment

Singapore Japan, Rwanda, Denmark

Canada United States, Norway
Mexico
United States Argentina, Canada, Finland
Pakistan Czech Republic, Netherlands
Ukraine
Georgia, Iceland, Ireland, Singapore
United Kingdom
Australia Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Sweden
Costa Rica New Zealand. Norway,
New Zealand
Ethiopia
The Philippines, Poland,
India Luxembourg
Indonesia Portugal, Singapore, Spain,
Germany
Japan Sweden, Switzerland,
Morocco Estonia
Ukraine, United Kingdom
New Zealand

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Positive Economic Environment
Top 10 Grades by Category
Start-Up &
Encourages Encourages Global Small Business
Broadband Tech Trade R&D Friendly Friendly Tax Friendly

Japan Singapore Israel Singapore Bulgaria

Iceland Philippines South Korea United States Hungary
Denmark Malaysia United States United Kingdom Saudi Arabia
United States China Japan Sweden Romania
Netherlands Czech Republic Sweden Israel Georgia
France Malta Austria Switzerland Kazakhstan
South Korea United States Belgium New Zealand Switzerland
Estonia Thailand Switzerland Norway Ukraine
Switzerland Hungary Germany Estonia Russian Federation
Singapore Japan Finland Finland Singapore

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Techologies of the Future
Top 10 Grades by Category

Blockchain Welcomes Self-

Friendly Driving Vehicles

Australia, Austria, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan,

Canada, Costa Rica, France, The Netherlands, Norway,
Georgia, Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, United Kingdom,
Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, United States, Czech Republic,
Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland,
Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg,
United Kingdom, Mexico, New Zealand,
United States Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia,

Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Vietnam

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Data
Allows Encourages
Actual Blockchain Encourages Encourages
Acts Green Cross-Border Global Tech
Diversity Friendly Broadband Telehealth
Country Grade Score Data Flows Trade

Algeria Modest Innovator 1.283 C+ F F F D+ F A

Argentina Innovation Adopter 1.843 A- C- F C C D- A

Australia Innovation Champion 3.097 A+ A+ A A B B B

Austria Innovation Champion 2.765 A- B C A B- B B

Belgium Innovation Leader 2.726 A- B+ C B B+ B- B

Brazil Innovation Leader 2.382 A- B- A A C+ D- A

Bulgaria Innovation Leader 2.373 B C C B B B A

Canada Innovation Champion 3.275 A+ A A A A- B B

Chile Innovation Leader 2.314 B C+ C B B- D- A

China Innovation Adopter 1.875 D+ D C F B A- A

Colombia Innovation Adopter 1.872 B C C C C- C A

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 Promotes
Friendly to Invests in Maintains Pro- Start-Up & Welcomes
Fundamental Resilience R&D
Digital Skilled Innovation Legal Small Business Tax Friendly Self-Driving
Country Freedoms & Digital Friendly
Platforms Workforce Environment Friendly Vehicles
Transparency

Algeria D D- B+ C- D+ D+ F B C

Argentina B B- C+ C- C+ D+ C- D- C

Australia C A B+ A A B A- D C

Austria D A- B+ A A- A- B+ D C

Belgium C A B- A- A- A- B+ D+ D

Brazil C C+ C- D+ B- B C+ C C

Bulgaria D B- C- C B- C B A+ D

Canada B A A- A- B+ B A B C

Chile C A- B B B- D- B C C

China F F N/A C C B+ A- C C

Colombia C C+ B- D+ C D- C+ F C

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Data
Allows Encourages
Actual Blockchain Encourages Encourages
Acts Green Cross-Border Global Tech
Country Grade Score Diversity Friendly Broadband Telehealth
Data Flows Trade

Costa Rica Innovation Leader 2.608 A- B- A A C B A

Croatia Innovation Leader 2.529 C+ C C B B- B A

Cyprus Innovation Leader 2.432 A- C- C B B- B D

Czechia Innovation Champion 2.941 A- B C B B A- B

Denmark Innovation Champion 3.077 A+ B C B A+ B B

Ecuador Modest Innovator 1.754 C+ B C D D+ D- B

Egypt Modest Innovator 1.294 D+ F F F D D+ B

Estonia Innovation Champion 3.156 A+ B+ C B A B A

Ethiopia Modest Innovator 1.302 D+ B A C F D B

Finland Innovation Champion 3.136 A+ B C B B+ B A

France Innovation Champion 2.961 A- B C A A B B

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 Friendly to Invests in Maintains Pro- Promotes Start-Up & Welcomes
Fundamental Resilience R&D
Digital Skilled Innovation Legal & Digital Small Business Tax Friendly Self-Driving
Country Freedoms Friendly
Platforms Workforce Environment Transparency Friendly Vehicles

Costa Rica C A- C+ B C+ D C- B C

Croatia D B B B- B B B B+ C

Cyprus D A- C+ B B+ C+ B A- C

Czechia B A C+ B+ B+ B B A- B

Denmark D A+ B+ A+ A+ B+ A C B

Ecuador C C+ C+ D C D D B C

Egypt C F C- F C- B- D B+ B

Estonia D A+ B+ A A- B A A- B

Ethiopia D D- N/A D- F D- F C C

Finland D A+ B+ A+ A+ A- A B- B

France D B+ B A- A- B+ A C- A

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Data
Allows Encourages
Actual Blockchain Encourages Encourages
Acts Green Cross-Border Global Tech
Country Grade Score Diversity Friendly Broadband Telehealth
Data Flows Trade

Georgia Innovation Leader 2.480 C+ C- A A C+ C A

Germany Innovation Champion 2.902 A- B C B B+ B B

Ghana Innovation Adopter 1.863 D- B A B D- F B

Greece Innovation Leader 2.452 A- C C B B B- C

Hungary Innovation Leader 2.333 A- C- C B B B+ C

Iceland Innovation Champion 3.165 A+ A C B A+ B B

India Innovation Adopter 1.922 D+ C- A C D C- A

Indonesia Innovation Adopter 2.029 C+ B A D D+ C A

Ireland Innovation Champion 3.059 A- B+ C B B B+ A

Israel Innovation Champion 2.916 B B C B B+ B+ A

Italy Innovation Leader 2.471 A- C- C B B- B- B

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 Friendly to Invests in Maintains Pro- Promotes Start-Up & Welcomes
Fundamental Resilience R&D
Digital Skilled Innovation Legal & Digital Small Business Tax Friendly Self-Driving
Country Freedoms Friendly
Platforms Workforce Environment Transparency Friendly Vehicles

Georgia B C+ C B C+ D- B- A C

Germany D A B A A A- A- D A

Ghana C B- B- C- C- D D B C

Greece D B B- B- B B C+ B- B

Hungary D C+ C D+ B- B C+ A+ C

Iceland B A+ B+ N/A A+ B+ B+ B+ C

India F C A+ D C- C- B- C- C

Indonesia C C C- C- C D- C B C

Ireland B A+ B A A- B A A- D

Israel C B- A- N/A B+ A+ A C B

Italy D B+ C+ B B B B C- B

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Data
Allows Encourages
Actual Blockchain Encourages Encourages
Acts Green Cross-Border Global Tech
Country Grade Score Diversity Friendly Broadband Telehealth
Data Flows Trade

Japan Innovation Champion 2.990 A- D- A A A+ B+ C

Jordan Innovation Adopter 1.804 C- B+ F C D D+ A

Kazakhstan Innovation Adopter 2.039 C- B C D C- C A

Kenya Modest Innovator 1.666 C- B+ C C D- F A

Latvia Innovation Leader 2.666 B B+ C B B B A

Lithuania Innovation Leader 2.746 B B- C B B+ B A

Luxembourg Innovation Champion 3.078 A+ A+ C A B B- C

Malaysia Innovation Leader 2.589 C+ B- C B C+ A+ A

Malta Innovation Leader 2.559 A- B+ C A A- A- B

Mexico Innovation Adopter 2.245 B B A A C D+ A

Morocco Innovation Adopter 1.804 C+ F A F D+ C A

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 Friendly to Invests in Maintains Pro- Promotes Start-Up & Welcomes
Fundamental Resilience R&D
Digital Skilled Innovation Legal & Digital Small Business Tax Friendly Self-Driving
Country Freedoms Friendly
Platforms Workforce Environment Transparency Friendly Vehicles

Japan A A C A B+ A- B D A

Jordan F D+ B B- C- C- C- B+ C

Kazakhstan D D+ A- C+ B- F C+ A C

Kenya D C N/A D- D+ C C+ C C

Latvia D A- C+ B+ B+ C- B+ B+ C

Lithuania D A- B- A- B+ B A- A- D

Luxembourg B A+ B A A B- A- C+ B

Malaysia
C C A- B- B- B- B- B C

Malta
D B+ C+ B B+ C- B D- C

Mexico
C C B- F C D- B- C B
Morocco
C D A- C- C- C- C D+ C

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Data
Allows Encourages
Actual Blockchain Encourages Encourages
Acts Green Cross-Border Global Tech
Country Grade Score Diversity Friendly Broadband Telehealth
Data Flows Trade

Netherlands Innovation Champion 3.078 A- B C B A B B

New Zealand Innovation Champion 3.352 A+ A A A B+ B A

Nigeria Modest Innovator 1.456 D- B C C D- F A

Norway Innovation Champion 3.273 A+ B+ C B A- B A

Pakistan Modest Innovator 1.068 D+ C A F D- D- B

Panama Innovation Adopter 1.999 B B F B C C A

Peru Innovation Adopter 1.971 C- B C B C- C A

Philippines Innovation Leader 2.362 C+ B+ A B D+ A+ A

Poland Innovation Leader 2.626 C+ D+ C B B+ B A

Portugal Innovation Champion 2.803 A+ C+ C A B+ B A

Romania Innovation Leader 2.471 A- C- C B B B A

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 Promotes
Friendly to Invests in Maintains Pro- Resilience Start-Up & Welcomes
Fundamental R&D
Digital Skilled Innovation Legal & Digital Small Business Tax Friendly Self-Driving
Country Freedoms Friendly
Platforms Workforce Environment Transparency Friendly Vehicles

Netherlands B A B A+ A- B+ A D+ A

New Zealand B A+ B+ A A- B A C B

Nigeria D D+ N/A D- D N/A D B C

Norway B A+ B+ A+ A B A C+ A

Pakistan F D F F D- F D C+ C

Panama C B- C+ D+ C F D+ B+ C

Peru C C+ B- D- C+ F C- B- C

Philippines B C B D+ C- D- D+ B C

Poland B B- C+ B B+ B B B+ C

Portugal B A B B B B A- F C

Romania D B C B- B- D+ B A C

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Data
Allows Encourages
Actual Blockchain Encourages Encourages
Acts Green Cross-Border Global Tech
Country Grade Score Diversity Friendly Broadband Telehealth
Data Flows Trade

Russia Innovation Adopter 2.049 A- C+ C D C+ C B

Rwanda Modest Innovator 1.490 F C F F D- D- C

Saudi Arabia Innovation Adopter 2.229 D+ B F B B+ C A

Singapore Innovation Champion 3.529 A- A A A A A+ A

Slovakia Innovation Leader 2.489 B C C B B+ B+ B

Slovenia Innovation Leader 2.706 A- B C A B- B A

South Africa Innovation Adopter 1.805 C+ B- C C C- D B

South Korea Innovation Champion 2.922 B D A B A B- B

Spain Innovation Champion 2.941 A+ B C A B+ B- B

Sweden Innovation Champion 3.352 A+ B+ C B A- B A

Switzerland Innovation Champion 3.313 A+ A- C A A B- A

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 Promotes
Friendly to Invests in Maintains Pro- Resilience Start-Up & Welcomes
Fundamental R&D
Digital Skilled Innovation Legal & Digital Small Business Tax Friendly Self-Driving
Country Freedoms Friendly
Platforms Workforce Environment Transparency Friendly Vehicles

Russia F D- B- D+ B- B C- A- B

Rwanda A D B- B D+ C C C+ C

Saudi Arabia C F A N/A B- D+ C- A+ B

Singapore B C+ A- A+ A+ B+ A+ A- B

Slovakia D B+ C+ B- B C+ B- B+ C

Slovenia D A- B B+ B B+ B- B- D

South Africa D B- C C C+ C- C- C- D

South Korea C B+ B+ A- A- A+ A C- B

Spain B B+ B B+ A- B A- C- B

Sweden B A+ B+ A+ A A- A+ A- B

Switzerland B A+ B+ N/A A A- A A C

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Data
Allows Encourages
Actual Blockchain Encourages Encourages
Acts Green Cross-Border Global Tech
Country Grade Score Diversity Friendly Broadband Telehealth
Data Flows Trade

Thailand Innovation Adopter 2.195 B D+ C D C+ B+ A

Tunisia Modest Innovator 1.696 C- D- F D D+ D B

Turkey Innovation Adopter 1.805 C+ C C D C C- B

Ukraine Innovation Adopter 2.128 B B- A F C C- A

United Kingdom Innovation Champion 3.235 A+ B- A A B+ D+ A

United States Innovation Champion 3.410 A+ B+ A A A+ B+ C

Uruguay Innovation Adopter 2.265 A+ C- F B B+ D- A

Vietnam Innovation Adopter 1.814 B C- C D C B B

EU Innovation Leader 2.726 A- B- C B B- B A

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 Friendly to Invests in Maintains Pro- Promotes Start-Up & Welcomes
Fundamental Resilience R&D
Digital Skilled Innovation Legal & Digital Small Business Tax Friendly Self-Driving
Country Freedoms Friendly
Platforms Workforce Environment Transparency Friendly Vehicles

Thailand C C- C D+ C+ B B- B+ C

Tunisia C C- A+ C- C C- C- B+ C

Turkey F D C- D B- B B- B- C

Ukraine B C- C D C+ D- B- A- C

United Kingdom B A- B+ A- A B+ A+ C A

United States A B+ B+ B+ A A- A+ B- A

Uruguay C A- C- A- B D C- B C

Vietnam D D- C- D C- D+ C- B+ B

EU D B+ B- B+ A- B+ B+ B- C

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6 Methodology
Methodology
In its ambitious fourth edition, CTA We consider demographic factors, 2.0 technologies, such as social · Publicly available, verifiable and
expands the Global Innovation such as the share of immigrants media platforms, and whether they independent third-party data exists;
Scorecard from 70 countries to in a country’s population and the welcome Web 3.0 technologies,
· Comparable data across nations
evaluate 74 countries, including the gender equality of its workforce, the such as cryptocurrencies, dapps
exists; and
entire G-20, all 27 members of the availability of high-skilled workers, and Decentralized Autonomous
European Union, and the EU as a and the ease with which its people Organizations (DAOs). · Governments can influence public
whole. The Global Scorecard includes can start new businesses. We look policy.
large and established trading partners at political and cultural dimensions, Finally, we consider a country’s
European Union
of the United States, and many including the freedom of religion, rules surrounding technological
Under the treaties on which the
emerging market countries driving movement, information and expression. trade, and emerging technologies
European Economic Community is
innovations in fields ranging from We evaluate the health of a country’s of great potential benefit, such as
based, the European Union establishes
health and finance to transportation. environment, including the quality telehealth and self-driving vehicles.
policies in certain areas but allows its
of its air and water. We consider a
member states to establish policies
country’s legal climate, the extent All third-party sources and policy inputs
of their own in others. This presents a
In total, the Global Scorecard of official corruption, and the health reflect the latest information available
challenge when evaluating EU states,
is a comparative analysis of 56 of its regulatory enforcement efforts as of August 23, 2024. As always, we
as they must be evaluated on their
indicators across 16 categories. Our and civil justice institutions. welcome your comments and feedback
merits, but should not be penalized
measurements identify the countries by email at [email protected].
for policies they themselves have
that most strongly encourage tech We evaluate whether governments
not chosen to enact. As a result,
innovation, economic growth, and impose arbitrary restrictions about Eligibility of Countries
CTA has both graded the EU in its
social progress, and the policies other where data is routed and stored.
entirety, and evaluated each of its 27
countries could emulate to deliver We consider whether governments In the 2025 Global Innovation
member states individually, on the
similar benefits to their people. place unduly onerous restrictions Scorecard, CTA evaluates
respective indicators in each category.
on or single out widespread Web countries for which:

2025 Global Innovation Scorecard | All rights reserved. | cta.tech 39

Acts Green into a composite score for the category, and Actual Diversity Allows Cross-Border Data Flows
evaluates the quality of a country’s air and converted back into letter grades according to measures the concentration of various ethnic evaluates the extent to which a country
drinking water. Metric A considers air quality, the following table: groups within a country and the gender permits the flow of data without onerous
measuring concentrations of fine particulate gap in its workforce. Metric A assesses and/or arbitrary requirements that create
matter (PM2.5, in µg/m3) using World Health the country’s ethnic diversity based on hindrances for end users or operators of
Grade Min Grade Max
Organization data (Source 1). Countries earn immigration data, using an adaptation of online systems including, but not limited to,
an ‘A’ for meeting or falling below the WHO Air 0.000 F 0.337 the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index, a method cloud storage and streaming media.
Quality Guideline, an annual mean of PM2.5 of 0.338 D- 0.681 most commonly used to measure corporate
10µg/m3, a ‘B’ for 10-15µg/m3, ‘C’ for 15-25µg/ 0.682 D 1.026 concentration within a given industry, A country earns -1 point if it has a data
m3, ‘D’ for 25-35µg/m3, and ‘F’ for over 35µg/ relying on the CIA World Factbook, and localization law, requiring online services
1.027 D+ 1.371
m3 or data not available. Michele Tribalat (France) Istituto Nazionale such as cloud storage providers to store data
1.372 C- 1.715 within its borders.
di Statistica (Italy), Britannica (Malta),
Metric B measures drinking water by 1.716 C 2.060 and minorityrights.org (Rwanda). Metric
percentage of the population using improved 2.061 C+ 2.404 B assesses the share of immigrants as A country earns -1 point if it has a data
drinking water sources, using the WHO. a percentage of a country’s population, transfer law, requiring online services such as
2.405 B- 2.749
Countries earn an ‘A’ for 100% of the using the United Nations Department of cloud storage providers to route data flows
2.750 B 3.000 according to strict directives.
population using improved drinking-water Economic and Social Affairs, Population
sources, a ‘B’ for 91-99%, a ‘C’ for 76-90%, a 3.001 B+ 3.251
Division, International Migrant Stock 2020.
‘D’ for 50-75%, and an ‘F’ for less than 50% or 3.252 A- 3.502 A country earns -1 point if it has a data
Metric C assesses the ratio of female-to-
data not available. mirroring law, requiring online services such
3.503 A 3.753 male participation in the country’s labor force
as cloud storage providers to store data
3.754 A+ 4.000 among people ages 25-54, drawing on the
For each measure, the letter grades are within its borders.
World Economic Forum: Global Gender Gap
converted to numeric scores, with ‘A’ equaling
Report, 2024. The scores in each metric are A country earns +1 point if it has engaged in
4 points, ‘B’ equaling 3 points, ‘C’ equaling 2
normalized, and then averaged, producing a bilateral or multilateral discussions to allow
points, ‘D’ equaling 1 point, and ‘F’ equaling
letter grade. for easier flow of data, and/or taken steps to
0 points. The resulting scores are averaged
promote international interoperability among
different privacy systems.

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A country earns +2 points if it has not passed Blockchain Friendly conversion (rather than simply the standard Encourages Broadband
data localization, transfer, or mirroring evaluates the degree to which a country applicable income taxes under existing measures a country’s number of mobile
regulations. allows people to use Web 3.0 technologies national law). It may restrict banks from broadband subscriptions per 100
without onerous requirements or unnecessary processing cryptocurrency transactions. inhabitants (Metric A, using International
A country earns +1 point if it data flows are
hindrances. Telecommunications Union Data indicator
determined by an individual’s consent to D — The country allows its nationals to
i911w), number of fixed broadband
platform terms and services. A — The country allows its nationals to exchange hard currency for cryptocurrency
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (Metric B,
exchange hard currency for cryptocurrency and vice versa, but places substantial
A country earns +2 points if it participates using International Telecommunications Data
and vice versa without significant restrictions. restrictions on them. Such restrictions might
in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation indicator i992b) and the mean download
Does the country possess a variety of crypto- include unique taxes assessed at the point
(APEC) Cross-Border Privacy Rules. speeds of its internet connections (Metric C,
friendly banking and financial services, such of conversion between cryptocurrency
using cable.co.uk’s Worldwide broadband
as Binance, Bitsmart, Coinbase, Crypto.com, and hard currency (rather than simply the
A = a country earns ≥ 1 point. speed league). The three metrics are each
Gemini, etc. standard applicable income taxes under
weighted equally, and the combined scores
existing national law). It may not recognize
C = a country earns -1 to 0 points. are normalized.
B — A country has no law or regulation cryptocurrencies as legal tender, restrict
F = a country earns -3 to -2 points. prohibiting the use of cryptocurrency. It may banks from processing cryptocurrency
have some restrictions on the exchange of transactions, or impose onerous registration
cryptocurrency (e.g., EU MiCA stablecoin processes requiring users to obtain
laws). The country also has an active permission from the government prior to using
blockchain startup environment, characterized cryptocurrencies, thus discouraging the use of
by the operation of multiple blockchain cryptocurrencies.
companies there, though these companies
need not be incorporated in the country. F — A country does not allow its nationals to
exchange hard currency for cryptocurrency
C — The country allows its nationals to and vice versa.
exchange hard currency for cryptocurrency
and vice versa, but with significant restrictions,
such as unique taxes assessed at the point of

2025 Global Innovation Scorecard | All rights reserved. | cta.tech 41

Encourages Global Tech Trade Encourages Telehealth limiting how long telehealth service can remain Friendly to Digital Platforms
considers five factors: Metric A, based on evaluates the extent to which a country permits operational. evaluates the degree to which a country
a country’s participation in the Information care for its population by Telemedicine. enables people to use Web 2.0 technologies
D — A country allows limited telehealth
Technology Agreement of 1997, according such as social media.
A — A country allows telehealth visits for a services and requires specific equipment to
to the World Trade Organization information;
wide range of healthcare services to occur carry out visits. It also has sunset clauses A — A country has enacted explicit rules
Metric B, a country’s participation in the
via videoconference or telephone, without limiting how long telehealth services can indemnifying digital platforms such as social
Information Technology Agreement of 2015,
requiring specific equipment to comply with remain operational. media and similar businesses against any
based on the World Trade Organization
Declaration on the Expansion of Trade in telehealth regulations. In addition, the country potential liabilities introduced by individual
F — A country does not allow telehealth
Information Technology Products; Metric C, must have no sunset clauses limiting how long users posting on them, and does not single
services.
the share of Information and Communication telehealth services can remain operational. out Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) or
Technologies (ICT) as a percentage of a Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs)
B — A country allows telehealth visits, but for special regulation and/or enforcement.
country’s total exports and as a percentage
places restrictions on the types of services
of total imports (Metric D), both derived from
allowed. It does not require specific equipment B — A country indemnifies digital platforms
the United Nations Conference on Trade and
to comply with regulations (i.e. allows visits and website operators by default from any
Development (UNCTADSTAT). Metrics C and
to occur over video call or phone). There are liability resulting from content posted by
D are normalized, and then all four measures
no sunset clauses limiting how long telehealth individual users, though upon notice, they
are averaged and normalized again,
services can remain operational. may be required to remove certain categories
producing letter grades. Metric E is based
of content (e.g., content that constitutes
on the average applied most favored nation
C — A country allows telehealth visits, but defamation in the United Kingdom,
tariff rate for ICT products and is derived from
places restrictions on the types of services expressions of Nazi ideology in Germany, etc.).
World Trade Organization tariff database.
allowed and requires specific equipment
to comply with regulations (i.e. physicians C — A country requires digital media
or patients cannot widely available platforms and website operators to cooperate
videoconference services or phone calls for with arbitrary government requests to remove
visits). The country may have a sunset clause content. The terms of such censorship are
not explicitly or transparently defined, nor is
such censorship limited by law, and the rules

2025 Global Innovation Scorecard | All rights reserved. | cta.tech 42

are subject to change even in the absence of Fundamental Freedoms Invests in Skilled Workforce Maintains Pro-Innovation
new legislation. Failure to comply with these evaluates the degree to which a country evaluates a country’s population on the basis Legal Environment
regulations exposes companies operating grants its citizens certain civil and political of educational attainment, availability of high- evaluates the health and fairness of a
digital platforms to liability. liberties. The grades are derived by equally skilled workers, and the share of ICT-related country’s judicial institutions. This category
weighting select components of CATO advanced degrees. Metric A assesses draws on three metrics in the World Justice
D — A country singles out Very Large
Institute’s Human Freedom Index (to include the percentage of a country’s population Project’s Rule of Law Index: Absence of
Online Platforms (VLOPs) and/or Very Large
freedom of movement; religious freedom; possessing a tertiary degree based on the Corruption (Metric A), gauging absence
Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) for special
the freedoms of association, assembly and INSEAD Global Talent Competitiveness Index of corruption in government; Regulatory
regulation and/or enforcement.
civil society; freedom of expression and 2023. Metric B assesses the availability Enforcement (Metric B), gauging the fairness
information; and freedom of relationships), of scientists and engineers, based on an and effectiveness with which a government
F — A country bans certain digital platforms
and scores from Freedom House’s Freedom average score of a survey of business implements and enforces regulations; and
altogether.
in the World 2024. The combined scores are leaders, also using the INSEAD Global Civil Justice (Metric C), gauging whether
then normalized. Talent Competitiveness Index 2023. Metric C ordinary people can resolve their grievances
assesses the percentage of overall degrees peacefully and effectively through the civil
institutions of higher learning confer in STEM- justice system. All three measures are
related disciplines, using the WIPO Global then averaged and normalized, producing
Innovation Index. Each of these three metrics letter grades. Please note that Iceland,
is normalized, and the scores are then Israel, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland are
combined into a composite, yielding a not included in the WJP Index, so they
letter grade. consequently receive null grades in this
category, which does not affect their overall
performance on the Scorecard.

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Promotes Resilience & R&D Friendly Start-Up & Small Tax Friendly
Digital Transparency measures a country’s gross expenditure on Business Friendly evaluates the competitiveness of a country’s
evaluates the extent to which a country’s research and development, as a percentage evaluates how easy it is to start a new tax system, based on its top federal
government provides services on the of its GDP, using data from the WIPO 2023 business in a country. Metric A assigns corporate tax rate, and its top individual
internet, enabling it to withstand shocks. The Global Innovation Index. The score is quintile scores to Total Score from marginal tax rate. Metric A is based on Tax
category encompasses a Resilience Score normalized and converted to a letter grade. StartupBlink’s Global Startup Ecosystem Foundation Corporate Tax Rates 2023. Metric
(Metric A, based on the FM Global Resilience Index 2024, which assesses countries on B is based on PwC Personal Income Tax
Index) and an E-Government Development their ability to support new businesses. Rates 2024 and Reuters (Russia). The scores
Score (Metric B, from the UN E-Government Metric B applies a normailzed score based in each metric are normalized, combined into
Development Index, 2022). The combined on the World Bank’s “Doing Business: Ease a composite, and converted to a letter grade.
score is normalized. of Starting a Business” 2020 Corrected Data.
Metric C grades nations on the number of
unicorn companies (companies that have
achieved an actual or implied valuation of
at least US $1 billion) founded domestically
in the past 10 years per 10 million people in
population, drawing on data from Pitchbook,
CBInsights, Crunchbase and Hurun Global
Unicorn List. The unicorn metric is then
converted into quintiles. Metrics A-C are then
averaged, normalized and converted to a
letter grade.

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Welcomes Self-Driving Finally, a country loses two letter grades if
Vehicles it imposes serious restrictions and/or anti-
evaluates the extent to which a country permits competitive policies on the collection and use of
the testing and operation of self-driving data for the commercial development of SDVs,
vehicles on its public roads. to include prohibitions on offshoring data.
As North America’s largest technology trade association,
A — A country permits the operation of Level 4 CTA® is the tech sector. Our members are the world’s
SDVs, at least in some cases without a human leading innovators — from dynamic startups to
driver, though it may impose restrictions, established global brands. CTA’s mission focuses on
including restrictions on what zones SDVs may promoting innovation beneficial to the human condition.
enter and what speeds they may reach. It advocates pro-innovation policies, provides market
research, promotes technology innovation and develops
B — A country permits the testing of Level 4
standards, and creates opportunities to foster business
SDVs.
and strategic relationships. CTA also owns and produces
C — A country may or may not currently be CES® — the world’s most powerful tech event. Find us at
testing any approved technologies at Level 4, CTA.tech and follow us @CTAtech and @CES.
but it either permits testing of such vehicles
to a limited extent, or at minimum, does not
explicitly prohibit them.

D — A country permits the testing of some

partial self-driving technologies, but these
Contact Info
technologies are below Level 4. 703.907.7600
[email protected]
F — A country does not permit SDV testing.
1919 S. Eads Street, Arlington, VA 22202

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