While the most innovative countries have further improved their performance, others have shown a lack of progress. The overall ranking within the EU remains relatively stable, with Sweden at the top, followed by Germany, Denmark and Finland. Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia are the countries that have most improved since last year. A comparison with other European countries confirms Switzerland’s position as the overall innovation leader that continually outperforms all EU countries. This year’s results also again show that South Korea, the US, and Japan have a performance lead over the EU.

Image source: EU press releases
Note: Average performance is measured using a composite indicator building on data for 24 indicators,
going from a lowest possible performance of 0 to a maximum possible performance of 1.
Average performance reflects performance in 2010/2011 (due to a lag in data availability).

However, the findings also show that most younger EU member states are are below EU average and considered moderate or modest innovators. Still, countries such as Slovenia, Cyprus, Estonia and Czech Republic have already developed into quite innovative members. Also, countries such as Norway, Croatia and Serbia are considered moderate innovators with a lot of potential for further innovation development as the graph and below show.

Image source: IUS 2013 report
Note: Average performance is measured using a composite indicator building on data for 24 indicators
ranging from a lowest possible performance of 0 to a maximum possible performance of 1.
Average performance reflects performance in 2010/2011 due to a lag in data availability.
The performance of Innovation leaders is 20% or more above that of the EU27; of Innovation followers it is
less than 20% above but more than 10% below that of the EU27; of Moderate innovators it is less than 10%
below but more than 50% below that of the EU27; and for Modest innovators it is below 50% that of the EU27.

Image Source: IUS 2013 report
Note: The EU Member States Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta are not included
in the RIS analysis. Group membership shown is that of the IUS. Map created with Region Map Generator.

You may download the report below.

Sources: EU press release, website of Innovation Union Scoreboard, IUS 2013 report