Global Innovation Index 2022 – ASEAN and the Future of Innovation-Driven Growth

Building on years of collaboration, WIPO and the ASEAN Secretariat jointly organized a seminar on the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2022 – ASEAN and the Future of Innovation-Driven Growth. Their fruitful partnership has been instrumental in reaching out to government officials, businesses, and other key stakeholders in the region so as to raise awareness concerning intellectual property (IP), and to foster IP utilization as a driver for social and economic progress among ASEAN Member States (AMSs).

This annual seminar has become an important platform to highlight the performance of, as well as for sharing the insights gained and lessons learned by, AMSs in building and growing their own innovation ecosystems.  In the process, the GII -- a key innovation indicator pioneered by WIPO -- has increasingly been used and relied on as a benchmark by sectors and economies within ASEAN and, for that matter, globally as well.

The Seminar brought together 148 participants both online and in person.  It was convened on February 21, 2023, with the participation of policy makers overseeing the IP sector, science and technology, education, tourism and the creative economy as well as other key stakeholders.  Among these were Technology Transfer Offices, research development and innovation-related agencies/parks, universities, independent non-profit technology think tank, public and private investment companies, state-owned enterprises, the consulting industry and private practitioners. 

Opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Marco Aleman, Assistant Director General, IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector (IES), WIPO, and His Excellency, Mr. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN Secretariat.  They both emphasized the value of innovation and its great potential for driving dynamic growth.  In this context, AMSs have consistently displayed outstanding and promising performance as per the GII 2022, in spite of some temporary setback as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Singapore ranks 7th in the top 10 most innovative economies globally, and has been part of this esteemed grouping for the past 15 years.  In moving up between 14 and 36 GII ranks over the past decade, Thailand, Viet Nam, the Philippines and Indonesia have performed appreciably above expectations relative to their own respective levels of economic development.  Notably as well, Viet Nam is holding the world record as an over-achiever on innovation for 12 consecutive years while Indonesia joined the prestigious group of over-performers for the first time in 2022.  Meanwhile, Malaysia is one of the only two middle-income economies which is close to the top 30 on the GII. 

The future therefore will continue to look bright in this part of the world. Innovation and development in ASEAN will continue on their upward trends as the regional economies transition toward Industry 4.0 and the future of work to the benefit of everyone, everywhere, with or without a pandemic.