The IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking 2024 has placed Switzerland in second. Last year, it was fifth overall. According to an summary of the report, Switzerland’s most important strengths are intellectual property rights, international experience, communication technology, knowledge transfer, and foreign highly skilled personnel. Particular improvement was made by the country in the categories of high-tech exports (ninth place), E-participation (up 11 places to reach 27th), and cybersecurity (11th place).
The five-year average from the country report for Switzerland shows that it has improved above all in the main factor of technology, rising from 11th, 12th, and 10th place previously to this year’s result of fourth place worldwide. Switzerland has taken the top spot for the factor of knowledge every year since 2021, having placed third in 2020. For the subcategory of scientific concentration, it is now in second place after coming in tenth last year.
For the third main category, future readiness, the country came in fifth again after placing in 5th, 3rd, 7th, and 6th previously. In this regard, it stood out in particular for knowledge transfer (first place) and public-private partnerships (fifth place).
Singapore, which is in first place overall, improved by two places versus the previous year. The USA fell back by three positions to fourth place but took the top spot by a large margin in the computer science education index.
This ranking list is created by the IMD World Competitiveness Center (WCC). The WCC is part of the private business school IMD, which is based in Lausanne and Singapore. The ranking list uses 38 statistical data points and 21 survey answers from management personnel covering the digital strengths and weaknesses of 67 global economies. The new or improved data for 2024 includes a measurement of peer-reviewed literature on artificial intelligence (AI), a count of AI guidelines that have come into force, and a measurement of the flexibility and adaptability of people in the face of new challenges. ce/mm
The world's leading hub for innovation
The world's leading hub for innovation
Switzerland and the Greater Zurich Area in particular are world leaders in research, knowledge, and innovation. The established exchange between academic institutions and the private sector as well as access to highly qualified talent make the Greater Zurich Area a globally leading innovation hub.
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