Thailand Climbs to 44th in Global Innovation Index
Thailand placed 44th in the 2026 Global Innovation Index, up one spot and third among upper‑middle‑income economies. The country ranked highly in creative goods exports, high‑tech exports and research talent, while improving its intellectual‑property performance. Officials pledged to continue supporting Thai businesses with IP tools to raise competitiveness.
Thailand ranked 44th out of 139 economies in the GII 2026 report released on September 29, 2026, moving up one place from the previous year and ranking third among 35 upper‑middle‑income economies behind China and Malaysia. The index highlighted Thailand’s strengths, with creative goods exports at sixth worldwide, high‑tech exports at eighth, and research talent at seventh. In intellectual‑property indicators, Thailand held fifth place for utility‑model applications for the third consecutive year, rose four spots to 30th for industrial‑design filings, and ranked 20th for IP payments abroad. Officials said these results show a solid foundation for innovation, design and technology development, as well as the ability to draw on domestic and foreign knowledge to create higher‑value products and services. Department of Intellectual Property Director‑General Jittima Sritaporn affirmed that the agency will keep pushing entrepreneurs to use IP tools to boost innovation and economic value.
