Bloomberg Innovation Index 2021
※ Source : Bloomberg (Jan, 2021)
Ranked 6th in 2022 Global Innovation Index
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Korea ranked 6th
in the Global Innovation Index to be evaluated as the best innovator in Asia for the second consecutive
year. Korea topped the world in seven categories of patent application per GDP, PCT (international
patent application) per GDP, industrial design application per GDP, researchers per population, research
talent in businesses, government online service, and e-participation.
Glocal Innovation Index 2022
※ Source : World Intelectual Property Organization (WIPO) “Global
Innovation Index (2022)"
Active Application for Intellectual Property Rights
As of 2021, Korea applied for 240,000 intellectual property rights, which is the
fourth largest in the world, following China, the US, and Japan. In addition, Korea ranked top in
resident patent applications filed per GDP of USD 100 billion, which demonstrates the nation’s strong
drive for technological innovation.
R&D Investment
In 2021, Korea’s R&D investments surpassed KRW 100 trillion for the first
time,
and its R&D investment-to-GDP ratio stood at 4.96% to maintain the second place in the world after
Israel. With 16.7 researchers per 1,000 economically active population and 9.1 researchers per 1,000
population, Korea topped the world in the two categories.
Number of Researchers per 1,000 Persons Employed (2021)
- 1위 Korea - 16.7
- France - 10.9(2020)
- Germany - 10.4(2020)
- Japan - 10(2020)
- US - 9.6(2019)
- UK - 9.3(2019)
- China - 2.9(2020)
※ Source : OECD (2022)
High-quality Workforce with the DNA of Innovation
Supporting Korea’s rapid economic growth in the last half-century are
characteristics prominent in the county, such as sincerity, responsibility, and flexibility. Korea’s
youth higher education completion rate was the highest among OECD member countries at 69% in 2021.
People are the most important resource in Korea, and they are what keep innovation alive in the country.
※ Source : OECD, “Education at a Glance 2022”