The Philippines is punching above its weight in innovation, delivering relatively strong results despite weaker underlying inputs, according to the 2026 Global Innovation Index (GII).
The country ranked 52nd among 139 economies in the latest index from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Its innovation output ranking held at 49th, even as innovation inputs slipped to 69th.
That 20-place gap suggests the Philippines is converting limited resources into innovation outcomes more efficiently than its input ranking alone would indicate. It also placed third among 36 lower middle-income economies.
Knowledge and Technology Outputs improved one spot to 37th globally, while Creative Outputs posted the biggest pillar gain, jumping six places to 55th.
The country’s strongest indicators included high-tech exports, which ranked fourth worldwide, and high-tech imports at sixth. Utility models by origin ranked 12th, creative goods exports 15th and ICT services exports 18th.
University-industry research and development collaboration also gained six places to 17th, pointing to stronger ties between research institutions and businesses.
The gains extend to intellectual property activity. Industrial designs by origin rose to 63rd from 73rd, patents by origin improved to 65th from 68th, while PCT patents by inventor origin climbed to 85th from 89th.
IPOPHL Director General Teodoro Pascua said the challenge now is to build on these areas of competitiveness and scale them faster.
The next hurdle is commercialization: turning more research and creative output into protected intellectual property, marketable products and globally competitive businesses.
For the Philippine economy, that pipeline could determine whether strong innovation outputs translate into broader investment, productivity and export gains.
