On September 16, 2025, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released the "2025 Global Innovation Index Report" (hereinafter referred to as the "Report"). China's ranking rose to 10th globally, marking its first entry into the global top 10 and solidifying its position as the leader among 36 upper-middle-income economies. Since 2013, China has climbed 25 places in the ranking. This demonstrates the remarkable achievements made by China in implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and accelerating the construction of a technologically advanced nation and a powerhouse in intellectual property.

The Report provides a comprehensive ranking of the innovation ecosystem performance of 139 global economies based on two major aspects: innovation input and innovation output. It covers seven key areas: institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication, knowledge and technology output, and creative output, comprising 21 sub-indicators and 78 detailed metrics.

The Report shows that China has long maintained a strong position in innovation output, with significant advantages. In 2025, China ranked 5th in innovation output, up two places from 2024, while its innovation input ranking rose to 19th globally, an increase of four places.

First, China leads globally in multiple intellectual property-related sub-indicators. These include the number of industrial design applications by nationals per unit of GDP, the number of utility model patent applications, the number of trademark applications, and the share of creative goods exports in total trade. Additionally, China ranked second globally in sub-indicators such as the number of invention patent applications by nationals per unit of GDP, the development of industrial clusters, and the proportion of business-funded research and development expenditure (GERD).

Second, China ranks first globally in the number of innovation clusters. China is home to 24 of the world’s top 100 innovation clusters. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou cluster rose to first place globally for the first time, while Beijing (4th) and Shanghai-Suzhou (6th) also ranked among the top 10. These regions are global hotspots for patent applications, technological innovation, and venture investment.

Third, China’s brand value remains the second highest globally. Among the world’s top 5,000 brands in 2025, the total value of Chinese brands reached $1.81 trillion, an increase of 2.84% from 2024, securing the second position globally.

Furthermore, the Report highlighted that China’s exports of high-tech products and its position in global value chains continue to strengthen, with outstanding performance in fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and green technologies.

Source: National Intellectual Property Administration