HSE GLOBAL CITIES INNOVATION INDEX
The Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics 2023 annual report ranking is based on a comprehensive approach to assessing innovation that covers the analysis of technological development, creative industries, and urban environment. The study is based on a specially developed system comprising 74 indicators calculated for 200 global cities with the use of recognized international data sources. It may be a useful predictor of urban vitality as well as real estate investment and development opportunity.
The global innovation economy is increasingly concentrated in a few key cities. Traditional tech and creative hubs like London, New York, Tokyo, Beijing, and Paris remain dominant, but new centers are emerging worldwide, often associated with a notable organization or individual in the innovation sectors. A striking 66% of the top 200 cities in a global ranking are located in just 10 countries, with the U.S., China, and the U.K. leading the pack.
In terms of innovation, these top cities show significant disparities. The gap between the top 10 and the bottom 10 cities is 5.8 times higher in overall innovation, but the difference is even more pronounced in areas like technological development (23 times) and creative industries (56 times). These leading cities are home to a large share of the world’s top researchers, Nobel Prize winners, and major players in fashion, film, and art. Despite hosting only 17.6% of the population, they generate 26.8% of the total GDP of all 200 ranked cities. This distribution highlights a greater disparity in innovation leadership than in wealth distribution.
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