The Netherlands Ranks Among the World’s Most Innovative Economies in 2026
The Global Innovation Index ranks the Netherlands 7th worldwide, due to its strong knowledge base, international connectivity and ability to turn innovation into impact
The Netherlands ranks 7th in the world in the 2026 Global Innovation Index (GII), moving up one position compared with 2025. Among European economies, the Netherlands ranks 4th, reinforcing its position as one of Europe’s leading locations for innovation. Published annually by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Global Innovation Index (GII) evaluates the innovation performance of 139 economies. The 2026 edition highlights how countries are building innovation capacity and translating knowledge, technology and scientific breakthroughs into economic and societal impact.
Turning knowledge into tangible solutions
A key strength of the Dutch innovation ecosystem is its ability to connect research, technology and business. In 2026, the Netherlands ranks 9th globally for innovation inputs and 7th for innovation outputs, demonstrating its ability to translate investments in knowledge and innovation into tangible results. Collaboration plays an important role in this performance. The Netherlands ranks 2nd globally for university, industry and international engagement among leading institutions. Its strong connections between universities, research institutes, startups and established companies, create an environment where knowledge can move quickly from research to practical applications. This collaborative approach is embedded across Dutch innovation ecosystems, from high tech systems and semiconductors to life sciences and health, agrifood, artificial intelligence, energy and advanced manufacturing. Across all sectors, there is cooperation between private sector, government and academia in a triple-helix approach that gives companies a competitive edge for innovation.
Dutch innovation clusters compete globally
The strength of Dutch innovation is also visible at the regional level. Two Dutch innovation clusters, Amsterdam-Rotterdam and Eindhoven, feature among WIPO’s Top 100 Innovation Clusters worldwide. The Eindhoven region stands out in particular for its high concentration of innovative activity relative to population. The GII identifies it as one of the European Union’s leading innovation clusters by intensity, reflecting the region’s strong patent activity and technology focused ecosystem surrounding the High Tech Campus Eindhoven. The greater Amsterdam-Rotterdam area ranks among the world’s larger innovation clusters, combining research, entrepreneurship and international business connectivity. Together, these clusters illustrate the diversity of the Dutch innovation landscape, bringing companies into close proximity with specialized talent, research institutions, technology partners, startups and international markets.
A place to innovate, collaborate and scale
The Netherlands’ 7th place in the Global Innovation Index reflects an innovation ecosystem built around collaboration, international connectivity and the practical application of new ideas. For international companies, this creates opportunities to connect with leading research organizations, access highly skilled talent, build partnerships with innovative companies and develop solutions for European and global markets.
Source: Global Innovation Index 2026
9 October 2026