Fortune releases Europe’s Most Innovative Companies ranking showcasing 300 firms

Fortune and Statista have published the second edition of Europe’s Most Innovative Companies ranking, evaluating 300 firms across 18 European countries and 21 industries. The list highlights organisations driving innovation in healthcare, manufacturing, telecommunications, retail and financial services, scoring them on product, process and cultural dimensions.

Europe’s research and development intensity remains at about 2.1% of GDP, lower than the United States, Japan and China, yet the continent continues to produce breakthroughs. Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML tops the ranking, noted for its Twinscan XT:260 chip‑packaging tool and High‑NA EUV lithography systems that advance the AI race. Other prominent firms include Infineon Technologies, NXP Semiconductors, ASM International, STMicroelectronics and Austria’s ams‑Osram.

The ranking underscores Europe’s strategic focus on its semiconductor ecosystem, reinforced by the proposed Chips Act 2.0, which aims to boost investment in chips, AI, cloud computing and digital infrastructure. Many listed companies are historic, such as France’s Saint‑Gobain (founded 1665), Germany’s Siemens (1847), the UK’s Rolls‑Royce (1904) and France’s Michelin (1832), illustrating a blend of long‑standing industrial expertise with modern innovation.