Innovation: Nordic countries rank high

Sweden, Finland and Denmark are among the best countries in the world when it comes to innovation, according to the annual European Innovation Scoreboard, which ranks EU countries and nations like the USA and Japan.

The annual comparison is based on the countries' abilitiy to provide the prerequisites for innovation and on how well they subsequently make use of that potential.

Iceland is also ranked highly, while Norway is somewhat lower down the list. Sweden is ranked as the most innovative country but does not come out on top of the ranking for how well countries make use of their potential.
"It's great that the Nordic countries come out so high up in the study, but we must continue to create even better conditions for innovation," says Halldór Ásgrímsson, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

The Council of Ministers puts great effort into improving innovation environments in the Region, encouraging existing institutions to create a borderless region with freedom of movement for knowledge, capital, people and products.

"It is important that all the positive ideas are encouraged and processed if we are to improve Nordic competitiveness in a global world. We need to publicise our innovations around the world," Ásgrímsson stresses.