Unsplash/R. Bai Busy road intersection in Shenzhen, China. The first hundred of the world’s largest innovation clusters: Southeast Asia and the USA are in the lead Economic Development
Shenzhen/Hong Kong/Guangzhou, Tokyo/Yokohama, San Jose/San Francisco, and Seoul and Beijing are the world’s five largest innovation clusters. This is evidenced by the latest data presented by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) based on an analysis of international patent applications, scientific publications and venture capital transactions.
The Global Innovation Index initiative records the cities and regions in which universities, research centers and invention offices are concentrated. It helps policymakers and business leaders create an environment conducive to the emergence of breakthrough ideas.
China (25 clusters) and the United States (20 clusters) together have nearly half of the world’s 100 largest innovation clusters. Next comes Germany with seven clusters, the largest of which is Munich (28th place). India and the UK each have four clusters: the leaders are Bangalore (24th place) and London (8th place), respectively.
Top ten innovation clusters
1. Shenzhen/Hong Kong/Guangzhou
2. Tokyo/Yokohama
3. San Jose/San Francisco
4. Seoul
5. Beijing
6. Shanghai/Suzhou
7. New York
8. London
9. Boston/Cambridge
10. Paris
The latest data indicate the expansion of the geography of innovation around the world. In addition to China and India, six other middle-income countries have clusters in the top 100 of the global ranking: Brazil (São Paulo), Egypt (Cairo), Islamic Republic of Iran (Tehran), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Mexico (Mexico City) and Turkey (Istanbul). Cairo (86th place) is the only African cluster in the top hundred.
The Tel Aviv/Jerusalem cluster ranks 19th on the list. Of all the post-Soviet countries, only Russia made it into the top 100: Moscow is in 50th place.