The latest EU innovation scoreboard shows some of the bloc’s most innovative countries may be losing steam
Innovation performance of the EU27 Member States in 2025. Photo credits: European Union
The EU’s overall innovation score is slightly down, by 0.4 of a point, for the first time since 2018, when the Innovation Scoreboard was introduced in its current form.
This year, some of the EU’s bigger point loses compared with 2024 were recorded at the very top of the table, among four “innovation leaders”: Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Finland.
While Sweden gained two points, jumping to first place with 155.5 points, the other three leaders all saw their scores dip since last year. Denmark’s 4.9-point dip meant it had to cede its first place in the scoreboard.
The main reason for the lost points in all three countries was a sharp decrease in venture capital expenditure.
Discover the latest in research funding every Tuesday with Funding Newswire. Dive into detailed articles with our monthly or yearly subscriptions or start with a free trial
NOTE: if you're a part of one of our Network member organisations, you get free access by signing up with your institutional email. Verify your eligibility here.
Receive the Funding Newswire [full access requires a subscription] each Tuesday, our Policy Bulletin each Thursday, and news about bridging Europe’s east-west innovation gap twice a month in The Widening. 
A unique international forum for public research organisations and companies to connect their external engagement with strategic interests around their R&D system.