Global Innovation Index 2026 ranks Slovenia 35th and Croatia 46th

The 2026 Global Innovation Index (GII), published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), ranks 139 countries on economic competitiveness and technological progress. Switzerland maintains its long-standing leadership at the top of the index, followed by Sweden and the United States.

Slovenia is ranked 35th globally. The country shows strong performance in infrastructure, human capital, and research, though it faces challenges in converting these inputs into market-based innovation outputs, such as venture capital. Within the European Union, Slovenia ranks 17th out of 27 members.

Croatia has seen a decline in its ranking, falling to 46th place from its previous positions. Within the group of 54 high-income countries, Croatia ranks 40th. Reports indicate that Croatia's innovation results relative to its GDP are performing below expectations for its level of development.