The 2022 edition of the Global Innovation Index (GII) presented the latest global innovation ranking of 132 economies on 29th September 2022, relying on 81 different indicators, with Mauritius being ranked at the 45th position overall and still 1st among the Sub-Saharan African nations. Mauritius improved its ranking by 7 places from the year 2021 to 2022. The good performance of Mauritius (rank 40th in Innovation inputs) was highlighted while the ranking in Innovation outputs (rank 54th) would require more attention.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, only Mauritius (45th) and South Africa (61st) rank among the top 80 countries. As per the GII Report 2022, Mauritius ranks highest within the region in Institutions (22nd), Infrastructure (70th), Market sophistication (16th), and Creative outputs (31st). It leads worldwide in Venture capital deals (1st), and performs notably well in Trademarks (15th), ICT services imports (20th) and New businesses (20th).

 

The changes in rankings of the major pillars of the GII from 2021 to 2022 are as follows;

1. Institutions – 21 to 22 (almost similar ranking)

2. Human Capital and Research- 71 to 66 (improved by 5th places)

3. Infrastructure-65 to 70 (dropped by 5 places)

4. Market Sophistication-29 to 16 (improved by 13 places)

5. Business Sophistication-111 to 96 (improved by 15 places)

6. Knowledge and Technology outputs-93 to 82 (improved by 11 places)

7. Creative outputs-ranking remained unchanged at 31st position.

 

“As per the GII report 2022, Mauritius has been ranked 1st in ‘Venture capital investors, deals/bn PPP$ GDP’ indicator under the pillar ‘Market sophistication’., as WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company), a Mauritius-based company, received USD 200 million of venture capital that will be used to enhance Africa’s digital infrastructure by expanding connectivity and open access data centers.”

 

The following weaknesses for Mauritius were identified in the Global Innovation Index 2022 report:

i. Global corporate R&D investors, top 3, mn USD

ii. QS university ranking, top 3

iii. Domestic industry diversification

iv. Domestic market scale, bn PPP$

v. GERD performed by business, % GDP