India saw its technological capabilities double from 9% to 21%: United Nations

India witnessed big increases in their technological diversification over the last two decades as its technological capabilities double from nine percent to 21 percent, according to report by UN agency released on Thursday.

The United Nations announced on Thursday a revival of industrial policies globally, with countries turning towards technological innovation to broaden the scope of their economies.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) highlighted that countries are pursuing diversification and greater productivity by focusing on enhancing existing strengths through specialization.

WIPO chief Daren Tang said that a resurgence in industrial policymaking is visible in economies of all sizes. Tang said that this includes in many developing and least developed countries, who are increasingly targeting economic diversification — and the innovation, creativity and technology required to achieve it — as a means of securing supply chains, addressing national and international challenges and driving sustainable growth.

“More and more economies see their future in innovation, creativity, technology and entrepreneurship,” he added.

The World Intellectual Property Report which is aimed at helping policymakers make better decisions by strengthening national innovation systems. The report also sheds light on the role of innovation in market economies, looking at specific trends in intellectual property.

The report highlighted a resurgence of industrial policies in recent years, driven by challenges such as climate change and the Covid-19 pandemic. It noted that high-income countries like the United States, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea, along with large economies like China and India, led in scientific, technological, and production capabilities. By leveraging their existing strengths, countries and regions could achieve higher levels of productivity and innovation.

The report emphasised that economies grow by transitioning their production structures from low-tech, commonplace activities to more specialised outputs reliant on skilled human capital. WIPO’s analysis, drawing from nearly 40 million patent filings, over 70 million scientific papers, and economic activity exceeding $300 trillion in goods and services exports, revealed a high concentration of innovative outcomes.

“Over the past 20 years, for example, the top eight countries account for 50 percent of exports, 60 percent of scientific publications and 80 percent of international patenting,” it said.

However, change is under way, WIPO added, saying China, India and South Korea saw big increases in their technological diversification over the last two decades.

With inputs from agencies.