US Innovation Ranks High, Progress Lacking

The United States ranks sixth in the world on global innovation-based economic competitiveness, ahead of the European Union, which ranked 18th, according to a new report from a high-tech think tank. The ranking of 39 countries and regions on 16 indicators in six key areas, authored by Information Technology and Innovation Foundation President Robert Atkinson and Scott Andes, also found the nation comes in last when measured by progress over the last decade. Issues ITIF measured include: human capital, innovation capacity, entrepreneurship, IT infrastructure, economic policy factors and economic performance. "This study is based on the importance of benchmarking global competitiveness and innovation on a variety of factors, not simply policy factors or economic performance," Atkinson said. "It's important to look at the competitiveness of United States, Europe, Asia and the rest of world based on variety of factors -- not just one." While the United States leads Europe, it "is not the runaway leader that some recent studies have found it to be," added Atkinson.