Bhutan has been ranked 74th out of 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index 2026, with strong performance in areas such as filmmaking and low-carbon energy. But officials say the bigger challenge now is turning these strengths into businesses, technologies and opportunities that can drive the economy. Bhutan was last assessed about a decade ago, in 2016, when the country was ranked 96th.
Bhutan’s creative sector is one area where the country stands out.
“The creative output, especially the feature films produced per million population, we are number one in the world. We still have the capacity to maintain that ranking, and we have other indicators in the creative output such as cultural and creative services export, then entertainment and media market; those are indicators we can work on to ensure that we are continuously performing well in the creative output,” said Lekey Dorji, Senior IP Officer, DoMCIIP.
Bhutan ranks second globally for low-carbon energy use.
But the ranking also shows a gap between the country’s innovation strengths and its results.
Bhutan is ranked lowest in Business Sophistication and knowledge and technology outputs. This means Bhutan needs to do more to turn its institutions and resources into products, businesses and technologies.
“Input performance shows much better results, but we are yet to see the result. Therefore, we see the output performance not so well relative to input. That shows the institutions are doing well; we are in the right direction, but we need to wait a few more years down the line to yield or witness the result,” said Lekey Dorji, Senior IP Officer, DoMCIIP.
The ranking is also expected to help guide investment decisions. According to the Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property, strong GII performance can attract more investment, particularly into sustainable sectors.
“The Global Innovation Index report is becoming, year by year, an important tool to be used by investors, both within and outside of the country. So, at this point in time, Bhutan is looking for investors. We are looking for FDI net inflow. We want to ensure we have investors in selected sustainable areas. So, to ensure these investors flow into or come to Bhutan, we have to ensure that we perform well every year in the GII ranking,” said Lekey Dorji, Senior IP Officer, DoMCIIP.
Starting next year, the National Task Force plans to work on weaker areas, while maintaining its current ranking.
The Department is also preparing to launch Bhutan’s National GII report and National Intellectual Property Strategy, with the launch expected in November.
Anita Chhetri
Edited by Sonam Pem
