PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia has climbed to 33rd place out of 133 countries in the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII), scoring 40.5 overall, which marks a significant improvement after holding the 36th spot for three consecutive years.

In a statement today, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Mosti) said this accomplishment reflects Malaysia's continued commitment to enhancing its national innovation ecosystem and boosting global competitiveness.

Malaysia also maintained its position as the second most innovative country among 36 upper-middle-income nations, trailing only China, while within Asean, Malaysia remained in second place behind Singapore.

The statement also noted that Malaysia retained the top spot in three sub-indicators: Graduates in Science and Engineering, High-Tech Exports, and Creative Goods Exports.

"Malaysia's innovation ecosystem was further strengthened by Kuala Lumpur's 93rd place ranking in the Top 100 Science and Technology Clusters, as highlighted in the GII 2024 report."

"The inclusion of Kuala Lumpur in the Top 100 Science and Technology Clusters for the first time since 2016 underscores Malaysia's rising status as a regional hub for innovation and technological advancement in Southeast Asia," the statement read.

The report also stated that Malaysia's improvement in the GII and Kuala Lumpur's entry into the Top 100 Science and Technology Clusters are clear indicators of the government's and particularly Mosti's commitment to advancing the nation's innovation-driven economy.

Mosti also pledged to continue investing in human capital and technological infrastructure to ensure that Malaysia remains competitive on the global stage.

As part of its goal to place Malaysia among the top 30 countries in the GII by 2025, Mosti, in collaboration with state governments, is developing the 'Malaysia Innovation Index', set to be launched next year.

"This initiative aims to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the innovation ecosystems across all states, enabling targeted interventions to strengthen the national innovation landscape.

"The effort aligns with the Malaysia Madani framework, which aspires to transform Malaysia into a creative and technology-producing nation by 2030," the statement said further.

TAGS: Mosti, GII 2024, innovation, Malaysia Innovation Index