The survey, of 6,000 respondents across six countries, shows a strong sense of optimism amongst those in the developing nations of China and India about the ability of their nations to prosper through innovation. This is in stark contrast to the views of those in developed Western economies.
However, there is an interesting east-west divide in terms of what people regard as the most important scientific achievements and inventions of the last century. For respondents in India, China and Japan, the greatest achievement of the past 100 years is instant global communication. By contrast, people in Britain and Sweden view combating serious diseases as the most important breakthrough. The moon landing, cutting global journey times and increasing average lifespan are seen as much less important than either of these two by all those surveyed.
According to the survey, the world’s most innovative country today is the US, with 30 per cent of people stating that view. The US is followed by Japan on 25 per cent and China on 14 per cent. The US is also seen as the country that provides the greatest support for innovative individuals and businesses by respondents in all six countries surveyed.
But when asked which country will be the most innovative a decade from now, China - also forecast to overtake the US as the world’s biggest economy by 2020, comes top with 27 per cent, followed by India on 17 per cent and the US with 14 per cent. Japan is in fourth place with 12 per cent.
The survey also reveals a strong sense of self-confidence amongst those living in developing countries about their potential to invent and improve their scientific and technological standing. More than half of those in China and India thought their home countries would be the most innovative in the world by 2020 (57 per cent and 56 per cent respectively). Americans were also optimistic with 28 per cent, the largest proportion, believing their country would hold this position.These findings were also reflected in people’s views about how absolute levels of innovation have changed. A majority of those living in the US, Japan and Britain agree that their countries are not as innovative as they used to be, while 44 per cent of Swedes felt the same. By contrast, more people in China disagreed with this statement than agreed.
Asked about specific innovations over the past century, the internet, computers and electricity were generally seen as the most important. However, people in the US, Britain and Sweden also placed equal importance on the invention of vaccines and antibiotics. The creation of the Internet was also viewed as the innovation that has had the greatest impact (29 per cent). This was a view held much more strongly in China and Japan (42 per cent and 43 per cent respectively) than in Britain, the US and Sweden.
The IT and telecoms sectors were universally seen as the most innovative followed by the pharmaceutical and automotive industries.
Commenting on the results of the survey, David Brennan, Chief Executive of AstraZeneca, said “Our survey offers a fascinating perspective into what innovation means to people from different parts of the world. But I am convinced that the greatest innovations are discovered when the best skills and talents from around the world can be effectively combined. I’m also encouraged to see in the survey that public perceptions of innovation and creativity are strongly associated with science and medicine. After all, we have a common connection with people around the world through our universal interest in better health.”
Country responses – opinions by country
Britain
Four in ten Britons consider Japan to be the world’s most innovative country today while three in ten believe it will be China in 2020, but only 5 per cent believe it will be the UK. Two-thirds of British people also feel the country is not as innovative as it used to be. The most innovative sectors are seen as IT/telecoms and pharmaceutical industries (68 per cent and 51 per cent respectively) while scientists are viewed as belonging to the most innovative profession (72 per cent). The greatest innovations are the internet and antibiotics (16 per cent each) and the greatest achievement of the last 100 years has been the eradication of serious diseases (40 per cent).
USA
Americans are most likely to consider their own country as the most innovative in the world (35 per cent) followed by Japan (29 per cent). Three in ten also think the USA will still be the most innovative country in 2020. Although Americans also see their country as most supportive of innovative companies (44 per cent), six in ten feel that the US is not as innovative as it used to be. Americans consider the computer and electricity to be the greatest innovations of the last 100 years (18 per cent) and the internet (24 per cent) to be the innovation that has had most impact on them
Sweden
Swedes regard Japan (27 per cent) and the US (17 per cent) as the most innovative nations in the world but just 5 per cent apply that description to their own country and fewer than one in ten (9 per cent) believes that Sweden is most supportive towards innovation. A quarter of Swedes believe China will inherit the mantle of the world’s leading innovator in 2020 (24 per cent). IT & telecoms (59 per cent) and pharmaceuticals (39 per cent) are seen as the most innovative industries while electricity (19 per cent) and antibiotics (17 per cent) are viewed as the greatest innovations of the past century
Japan
The Japanese see the US as the most innovative country in the world today (40 per cent) but believe that China will overtake it by 2020 (21 per cent). The Japanese have a relatively poor perception of their own inventive prowess with just 12 per cent regarding their country as the most innovative today and 60 per cent worrying that it is less innovative than it once was. The Japanese regard science as the most innovative profession (55 per cent) and the internet and computers (27 per cent each) as the greatest innovations
India
Indian citizens consider the US to be the most innovative country in the world (29 per cent) but 16 per cent think their own country can already make that claim and 56 per cent believe it will be the case by 2020. Three in ten Indians think India provides the most supportive environment for innovation while IT & telecoms (66 per cent) and media (45 per cent) are viewed as the most innovative industries. The computer is voted the greatest innovation of the last 100 years and instant global communication (42 per cent) is seen as the greatest achievement of the last century, compared with 16 per cent who nominate the eradication of serious diseases
China
The Chinese agree that the US is the world’s most innovative country today (46 per cent) and biggest supporter of innovation (50 per cent). But over half (57 per cent) believe China will have overtaken the US by 2020 and only a third (34 per cent) agree that China is less innovative than it used to be. IT & telecoms (73 per cent) and aerospace (58 per cent) are see as the two most innovative industries while 34 per cent rate pharmaceuticals as innovative. The internet (33 per cent) is seen as the greatest innovation of the last 100 years, instant global communication the greatest achievement (47 per cent)
Links
Further materials are available at the AstraZeneca website.
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