Egypt has advanced three places to 83rd globally in the 2026 Global Innovation Index, up from 86th in 2025, 2024 and 2023, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) announced on Wednesday.
WIPO highlighted several strengths underpinning Egypt’s innovation performance, including the size of its domestic market, a strong scientific and research base, the quality of its universities, and its pool of research talent, according to a report issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Egypt ranked 18th globally for domestic market size, 40th for research talent, 44th for the H-index of citable documents, 48th for university quality, and 54th for the number of researchers.
The report identified Greater Cairo as one of the world’s leading innovation clusters. Egypt was one of 34 economies worldwide, and the only African economy, with an innovation cluster ranked among the world’s top 100.
Egypt also ranked 27th globally for economic diversification, while spending on research and development stood at slightly more than 1 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).
The country recorded a notable improvement in net foreign direct investment inflows, ranking 22nd globally, alongside stronger indicators for manufacturing and high-tech exports.
The report also said Egypt’s progress reflected strenuous efforts to develop higher education and scientific research, support innovation and strengthen the role of universities and research institutions in driving economic and social development.
