According to the 2026 report, Uzbekistan has improved its standing in the Global Innovation Index (GII), moving up two places to rank 77th out of 139 countries. The most significant progress was noted in the 'Innovation Output' sub-index, where the country advanced 14 positions, as reported by the press service of the Agency for Innovative Development under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan.
Annually in September, the Global Innovation Index is published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) jointly with the Portulans Institute, based in the USA, representatives of corporate and academic networks, and the GII Advisory Council.
This ranking is one of the leading international studies assessing the development of science, technology, and innovation in different countries. It includes two sub-indices and about 80 indicators grouped into seven main categories.
GII 2026 Ranking Results
According to the GII report for 2026, published on September 29, Uzbekistan ranked eighth among 36 low- and middle-income countries, and also entered the top four participants from 11 countries in Central and South Asia.
In the 'Innovation Input' sub-index, Uzbekistan rose one step, taking 68th place. However, more substantial growth was recorded in the 'Innovation Output' sub-index, where the country advanced 14 positions, reaching 78th place.
Furthermore, Uzbekistan demonstrated good results in several individual indicators related to the development of science, entrepreneurship, and labor productivity. The country ranked second in the 'Graduates in Science and Engineering' indicator, third in 'Entrepreneurship Policies and Culture', fourth in 'Startup and Scalable Company Financing', and seventh in 'Labor Productivity Growth.'
Uzbekistan first appeared in the Global Innovation Index in 2015, when it ranked 122nd out of 141 countries. In 2025, the country was ranked 79th out of 139 countries.
Achieving Development Goals
The improvement in the international ranking aligns with the goals set by Presidential Decree No. UP-21 dated February 16, 2026, 'On Additional Measures for the Sequential Continuation and Advancement of Reforms in Priority Areas of Country Development until 2030'. According to this document, it is expected that by 2030, Uzbekistan will enter the group of 60 leading innovative countries in the world.
The goal set for 2026 was to achieve 77th place in the Global Innovation Index, which Uzbekistan successfully achieved by the end of this year. Thus, the GII results for 2026 reflect Uzbekistan's progress in the international innovation ranking.
The country's strong performance in specific areas underscores the importance of developing scientific and technical education, supporting entrepreneurship, financing startups, and increasing labor productivity to achieve long-term goals in innovative development.
