Malaysia has reached a new milestone in the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII), ranking 33rd out of 133 countries, which is its highest ranking since 2016. The GII, published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), reflects a significant improvement for Malaysia, which held 36th place for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023. This advancement enhances Malaysia's standing in the global innovation landscape. The GII is an important index used by countries and multinational corporations to evaluate innovation ecosystems, guiding policy formulation and investment decisions.
YB Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Tuan Chang Lih Kang, expressed pride in this achievement while highlighting the government's continuous efforts in strengthening innovation.
Malaysia not only improved its overall ranking but also sustained strong performance in several key areas. The country remains the second most innovative country in the category of Upper Middle-Income Countries and continues to rank first for the three sub-critical indicators: Graduates in Science and Engineering, High-Tech Exports, and Creative Goods Exports. Kuala Lumpur is also listed in the World's 100 Best Science and Technology Clusters for the first time, ranking 93rd.
"This success is proof of the commitment of the Madani Malaysia government in building a strong and synergistic innovation ecosystem. The increase in our position at the international level shows our ability to compete globally, especially in science and technology. This is also the result of the concerted efforts of all ministries, agencies, and other stakeholders through the GII Competitiveness Inter-Agency Monitoring Committee (JIPGII) established in 2021 under MOSTI."
Nevertheless, the country must continue efforts to boost investment in research and development (R&D). Based on the latest data, Malaysia recorded Gross Domestic Expenditure on Research and Development (GERD) at a rate of 1%, far behind developed countries such as South Korea and Japan with a rate of 4.93% and 3.41% respectively. In order to achieve the target of ranking in the top 30 in the world by 2025, Malaysia needs to intensify investment in R&D, with the government expected to need to invest around RM26 billion a year and the private sector as much as RM60 billion to achieve the GERD target of 3.5% in 2030.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) plans to introduce the Malaysia Innovation Index (MII) in 2025. This platform will measure innovation levels in each state, facilitating targeted interventions to further strengthen the innovation ecosystem throughout the country.
"This achievement is an important step towards becoming a world-class creative country. However, our efforts cannot stop here. We must continue to explore and invest in innovation that can be translated into sustainable and continuous progress to achieve the goal of the Civil Economy," said the YB Minister.
Malaysia’s remarkable progress in the GII 2024 signals its growing strength in the global innovation arena. While celebrating these achievements, the country acknowledges the need for greater investment in R&D to remain competitive. With the upcoming launch of the MII in 2025, the nation is taking proactive steps to ensure sustained growth and enhance its innovation ecosystem, paving the way for future advancements and positioning itself as a global leader in science and technology.
This content is provided by Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).
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