The Philippines is rewriting its innovation story

This year, the Philippines has again shown a significant upward trend in the Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking. From once being seen as a quiet contender, the country now proudly sits in the Top 50 most innovative economies in the world.

- TECH4GOOD FORMER DICT UNDERSECRETARY MON B. IBRAHIM

From being ranked 90th 12 years ago, it has officially stepped into the global spotlight of innovation, climbing back to its highest-ever position in the annual ranking and fifth among the fast-rising countries in the annual index.

This milestone signals more than just a number on a chart — it’s a narrative that tells of a nation steadily transforming its ideas into impact, and showing what it is really capable of. It also reflects the effects of welldirected policies and investments, as well as the creativity, resourcefulness, and ingenuity of Filipino innovators across various disciplines.

The Global Innovation Index serves as a worldwide scoreboard, measuring the effectiveness of different countries in supporting and creating new ideas, inventions, and innovative solutions. It is published annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in collaboration with university and research partners.

The GII 2025 examined 139 countries, measuring factors such as innovation inputs, the resources a country has for innovation. They answer the question: “Does this country have the right environment and resources to innovate?” Inputs are about preparing the ground for innovation. They also examined the innovation outputs, which are the results or outcomes of the innovation process. They answer the question: “What new things are actually being created?” In short, outputs are about what grows from the seeds of innovation.