Bhutan Enters Global Innovation Index at 74th Place
Country shows strength in creative industries and low-carbon energy, but faces challenges in turning innovation into businesses
Bhutan has entered the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2026 at 74th out of 139 economies, marking the country’s first appearance in the index. The ranking highlights Bhutan’s strengths in areas including creative industries, environmental sustainability and low-carbon energy.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Bhutan is an innovation overperformer for its level of economic development. The country performs particularly strongly in institutional quality, ecological sustainability, gross capital formation and low-carbon energy use.
PHOTO 1 — Young Bhutanese innovators take part in the 2026 Youth Tech-Novation Hackathon.
Photo: UNICEF Bhutan
However, the report also points to areas where Bhutan needs to improve. The country ranks relatively low in business sophistication and knowledge and technology outputs, showing that more work is needed to turn ideas and resources into successful businesses, technologies and products.
Bhutan’s creative sector is one of its notable strengths. The country performed particularly well in filmmaking and other creative outputs. It also ranked second globally for low-carbon energy use, reflecting its strong position in sustainable development.
The ranking could provide useful guidance for Bhutan as it works to strengthen entrepreneurship, technology and investment. The Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property has said that stronger innovation performance could help attract investment into sustainable sectors.
Officials are also preparing Bhutan’s National GII Report and National Intellectual Property Strategy, with the launch expected in November. Starting next year, the National Task Force plans to focus on weaker areas while maintaining Bhutan’s current position.
For Bhutanese students and young entrepreneurs, the ranking highlights the importance of developing creative ideas into practical solutions, businesses and technologies. As Bhutan continues its digital and economic transformation, innovation could play an increasingly important role in creating new opportunities
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