We live in the age of technological innovation. It feels like every month or two there is some huge new product or innovation. We see exponential improvements in things like computing power and internet technology, and certain forward-thinking countries tend to be responsible for that kind of innovation.
Tech innovation can have a huge impact on a country’s output and GDP. Here’s a guide that can help if you need answers to the question “what is GDP?” It helps to understand exactly what drives the economy of a country, and in the modern age, manufacturing and producing tech products can be huge for any country.
So, which countries are responsible for the most innovations throughout history, and which make the most progress today? These tend to be ranked based on anecdotal evidence as well as the way in which countries spend on innovation, research, and development.
United States of America
It is impossible not to include the USA on this list. When you consider the fact that the country is home to the two biggest computer brands alone, you can tell that there has been plenty of innovation and forward-thinking to come from the States.
Just take a look at the gaming industry for one benchmark. The USA is at the forefront of gaming technology and holding regular conventions, as well as being home to some of the most impressive game developers and the biggest-selling consoles on the market.
Silicon Valley has become famous over the years for being home to a huge number of tech companies. From Google to Facebook, this area is responsible for a lot of innovation and attracts some of the greatest brains in the world.
Germany
Germany definitely earns its place on our list of the most innovative countries and consistently scores highly on innovation indexes. Much of the German economy relies on its huge manufacturing industry and there are a number of tech giants working out of the country.
One area in which Germany is basically unrivaled is the automotive industry, and the country continues to produce many of the best vehicles in the world, constantly creating new technology to improve driving and make it safer for all of us. The country is one of the top homes of “unicorn” companies, which are startups with a value of over $1bn.
UK
The UK is host to some of the greatest universities in the world and over the years has seen plenty of innovation. From the telephone to fingerprint technology, and of course, the internet, the UK has given the world some amazing tech innovations. To this day, many huge companies operate in the country, and pharmaceutical companies are a particular area of innovation.
Japan
The Japanese are proud of their education system and the innovations they have brought to the world. Japan has some of the biggest car manufacturers in the world headquartered in the country and is one of the largest producers of electronics in the whole world. Now, Japan is also leading the way with nanotechnology, robotics, and even some technologies related to renewable energies.
South Korea
This is another Asian giant that is known for making some amazing technology and continuing to improve and innovate. Did you know that this is the world’s leading manufacturer of both TVs and smartphones?
South Korea has a huge focus on further education, with many adults staying in education for a long time and then going into research and development roles, which is one of the reasons the country is so good at making progress in the tech world.
Singapore
Singapore is a country that really punches above its weight in terms of innovation. This tiny country has turned itself into a hub for high-tech countries in Asia, and over recent decades they have become R&D and business leaders.
Razer and ByteDance are among the companies with a big presence in Singapore, a country that is regularly in the top 10 for innovation despite having a very small population in comparison to, say, America or Germany.
Conclusion
Luckily, we live in a world where technology and innovation can spring from anywhere. Plenty of other contenders could easily be included on our list, such as China, Finland the Netherlands and many more European countries that continue to make changes and grow their tech industries. Who knows which country will be the next to turn itself into a giant in the world of innovation?