Contribution to the launch of the Global Innovation Index 2025
© 2025 EPFL
Prof. Gaétan de Rassenfosse, Associate Professor of Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy, was invited by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to take part in a high-level panel discussion at the launch of the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025.
The event, chaired by WIPO Director General Daren Tang, brought together leading experts and policymakers to discuss the state of global innovation and the challenges that lie ahead. The GII, which ranks 139 economies, is the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool on innovation performance.
In his remarks, Prof. de Rassenfosse highlighted three key trends shaping innovation in 2025 and beyond: the return of sovereignty as governments seek to reduce foreign dependencies in critical technologies; the growing need for regulatory agility to keep pace with fast-moving innovation; and the disruptive yet uncertain role of artificial intelligence. He emphasized that while AI is attracting vast investment, its broad economic impact will only materialize once complementary investments in skills, infrastructure, and business models are in place.
Asked about the path to unlocking AI’s potential, he drew historical parallels with past general-purpose technologies like electricity and the internet, stressing that productivity gains take time to diffuse. He called on governments to provide regulatory clarity, foster adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises, and lead by example through mission-oriented public investments in areas such as healthcare, education, and transport. “AI’s gains are not automatic,” he concluded. “They depend on building the right skills, the right rules, and the right pathways for broad adoption.”