European Innovation Scoreboard 2024

The European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) is an essential annual publication by the European Commission, specifically from the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. It provides a comparative assessment of research and innovation performance across EU Member States, other European countries, and selected global competitors. This resource is invaluable for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in understanding innovation strengths and weaknesses and addressing the challenges within their national innovation systems.

The EIS employs a comprehensive set of innovation indicators organized into key dimensions. These include human resources, which measure the availability of a skilled workforce; research systems that assess the quality of research environments; and an innovation-friendly environment that evaluates conditions supporting innovation, such as broadband penetration and venture capital availability. Financial support tracks public and private investments in R&D, while firm investments focus on business expenditures related to R&D and innovation. The scoreboard also examines the proportion of firms that introduce innovations and the collaboration between firms and research institutions, alongside metrics for intellectual assets and impacts on employment and sales.

The 2024 edition reveals a significant improvement in the EU's innovation performance, rising by 10 percentage points since 2017, with nearly all Member States demonstrating progress. Denmark remains the most innovative EU Member State, while Estonia has seen the most notable performance improvement, advancing from a Moderate Innovator to a Strong Innovator status. Among non-EU countries, Switzerland ranks highest at 138.4% of the EU average, and South Korea is recognized globally as the most innovative nation at 131% of the EU average. Furthermore, Stockholm (Sweden) is highlighted as the most innovative region in Europe, followed by Hovedstaden (Denmark) and London (UK).

The Scoreboard is particularly relevant for those looking into sustainable housing and smart city development. Key indicators related to urban innovation capacity include digital skills and broadband infrastructure, which are foundational for smart city services. Additionally, the growth of startup ecosystems and venture capital plays a crucial role in developing urban technology solutions. Public-private R&D collaboration is essential for translating research into actionable smart city technologies. The disparities highlighted in the companion Regional Innovation Scoreboard show that metropolitan regions typically outperform rural areas, emphasizing the concentration of innovation capacity in urban settings.

The EIS informs EU-level policy development, including the Horizon Europe research programme and the European Innovation Agenda. For cities and regions, this resource provides benchmarking data to guide investment priorities, identify gaps in innovation infrastructure, and support evidence-based strategies for digital transformation and sustainable development. The insights from the EIS are critical for understanding how to effectively foster innovation in housing and urban planning to promote sustainability.

For more detailed information, visit the European Innovation Scoreboard — European Commission.