Copyright qcostarica
Q COSTARICA — Costa Rica ranked sixth in Latin America and the Caribbean in the 2025 Global Innovation Index (GII), published in September by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in conjunction with Cornell University and the European Institute of Business Administration. The report measures the innovation performance of 139 countries based on 80 indicators grouped into seven pillars: institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication, knowledge and technology output, and creative output. The results in each area are used to calculate an average score that determines each country’s final ranking. The index aims to compare countries’ innovation capacity and outcomes and identify areas for improvement and weaknesses. In the Latin American region, Costa Rica ranks behind Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, and Colombia, and ahead of 15 other economies. The analysis reflects a solid foundation in institutional matters and business structure, while weaknesses persist in talent development, scientific investment, and domestic market development. Costa Rica’s results across the seven pillars are: Institutions: 53.5 points (57th) Human capital and research: 25.7 points (85th) Infrastructure: 44.3 points (63rd) Market sophistication: 31.6 points (89th) Business sophistication: 28.0 points (70th) Knowledge and technology production: 23.4 points (55th) Creative production: 16.9 points (88th) According to WIPO, Costa Rica’s performance is explained by the stability of its institutions, its openness to foreign investment, and the presence of technology companies that have developed local production chains. Technological infrastructure, internet access, and export capacity in digital goods and services also contribute to its ranking. However, the country continues to lag in the human capital and research pillar, where it ranks 85th, and in market sophistication, where it ranks 89th. These results reflect the need to strengthen investment in science education, university innovation, and funding for national technology projects. Knowledge and technology production, where Costa Rica ranks 55th, remains one of its strongest pillars, driven by its ecosystem of technological services and the presence of multinational companies dedicated to innovation in sectors such as biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and software development. On the other hand, creative production, ranked 88th, demonstrates the limited development of cultural and digital content industries, areas that other countries in the region have strengthened as sources of innovation and employment. Globally, Costa Rica ranks 72nd, a drop from the previous year when it was in the top 70. In the 2024 edition of the Index, Costa Rica obtained an overall score of 28.3 points. Although it dropped two positions in the global ranking this year, the country maintains its place among the best-performing Latin American economies. The study highlights that rankings may change annually due to methodological changes or the inclusion of new countries. In Costa Rica’s case, the slight decline does not represent a structural deterioration, but rather adjustments in relative performance compared to other nations that improved their innovation indicators. The 2025 Global Innovation Index shows that Latin America and the Caribbean continues to lag behind other regions in terms of investment in research and development, technology adoption, and exports of high-tech products. The Most Innovative Countries in Latin America Dominican Republic 22.6 Switzerland remains the most innovative country in the world, followed by Sweden, the United States, South Korea, and Singapore.
