The 2017 report on the European Innovation Scoreboard indicates that despite uncertainties and inconsistent progress in innovation on the continent, the EU’s innovation performance continued to rise in 2016. This year’s report includes a new measurement framework that includes an improved timeliness of indicators, incorporating evolving policies into the innovation dimensions, a better analysis of digital and startup activities and a new category on innovation-friendly environments. The top six countries in innovation are Sweden, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and the UK, with this report marking the first time the UK has been an innovation leader. Compared to the EU average R&D performance in 2010, Sweden has improved 2.3%, the Netherlands has risen 10.4% and the UK has jumped 11.7%, while Denmark and Finland’s performance has declined 2.8% and 5.1%, respectively. Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria and the UK are the fastest growing countries in innovation, with their performances increasing by a minimum of 5% each.

Between 2010 and 2016, the EU average for innovation increased 11.8%. During this period, Portugal had a 50.3% increase in performance, followed by Finland with 41.0% and Poland at 38.9%. Austria has had the greatest drop in performance, decreasing 50.7% during the 10-year period.

The report indicates that international copublications and the rising number of university graduates and doctorates are among the areas that have improved the most, while investments by venture capital firms and the share of small- to medium-sized enterprises developing innovations have declined.

Firm investments, which include business R&D expenditures and non-R&D innovation expenditures, improved 13.6% from 2010, and international copublications increased 54.2%.

EU innovation performance is forecast to increase 2% by 2019.

Source: European Commission