The Global Innovation Index ranks the innovation performance of 143 countries and economies around the world, based on 81 indicators. This edition explores the role of the individuals and teams behind the innovation process. It sheds light on different aspects of human capital required to achieve innovation, including skilled labor; the intersection of human, financial and technological capital; talent retention; and the mobilization of highly educated people.

Its outstanding feature is the inclusion of journal articles. For more than 50 years the periodicals have been indexed, as well as compilations such as Festschriften, and the proceedings of congresses.