Cambridge beats San Jose and Oxford to be named as the most intensive science and technology cluster in the world
Published: 10:42, 22 September 2023
Cambridge has retained its ranking as the most intensive science and technological cluster in the world in a new report ranking global innovation.
The 2023 Global Innovation Index (GII) evaluates the top-level innovative capacity of countries and economies and identifies local concentrations of world-leading activity.
As it was in the 2022 index, Cambridge is named as the number one science and technological cluster by intensity, with San Jose, San Francisco, in the US, in second and Oxford in third.
Prof Deborah Prentice, vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge, said: “Cambridge is a truly extraordinary place, where leading scientists work side by side with industry and academic partners, sparking ideas and creating life-changing medicines, technologies and services. I am thrilled to see it again recognised as one of the greatest innovation hubs on the planet.”
The index establishes science and technology clusters by analysing patent-filing activity and scientific article publication, and documenting the geographical areas around the world with the highest density of inventors and scientific authors.
The index, due to be published in full on September 27, notes that per one million inhabitants the Cambridge cluster filed 6,582 Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent applications and published 37,136 scientific articles over the past five years.
It follows a report earlier this year by consultants London Economics that showed the University of Cambridge adds nearly £30billion to the economy every year and supports more than 86,000 jobs across the UK.
Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, chief executive of Cambridge Enterprise, the university’s commercialisation arm, said: “It is fantastic to see this continued recognition of Cambridge’s success as the world’s most intensive science and technological cluster. The Cambridge innovation ecosystem is home to a unique and driven community of exceptional science, people, companies and partners, tackling global challenges and changing lives.”