Belgium makes list of 25 most innovative countries

Belgium is among the world's 25 most innovative countries, according to the 2015 Global Innovation Index (GII), an annual study published by Cornell University, which ranks countries according to their level of innovation. Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United States top this year’s rankings, while Belgium sneaks in at 25th place.

The survey examines 141 economies around the world, using 79 indicators to gauge both innovative capabilities and measurable results. Some indicators include university performance, the reach of scholarly articles and the international dimension of patent applications, in proportion to a country's population.

The study also takes into account the extent to which government policies are committed to encouraging innovation by facilitating the patent of new ideas and the growth of start-ups.