Global Innovation Ecosystem: Monitoring of State in 2020 – First Half of 2021

Abstract

The article examines the main quantitative parameters of the global research and development (R&D) sector for 2020-2021 in the national, regional and sectoral dimensions; and also identifies the main directions of some world’s leading countries’ state policy in the field of science and innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the entire global innovation ecosystem. A significant adjustment of innovation policy benchmarks in favor of R&D in health care and information and communication technologies has been required. There has been a significant increase in the number and volume of initial public offerings (IPOs) in the biopharmaceutical sector. Due to the uncertain outlook of the global economy, the total number of IPOs and mergers and acquisitions (M&As), including in high-tech industries, dropped. However, as soon as the situation has improved, activity in this area began to recover. Changes have emerged due to the decline in economic activity in many countries and industries because of the restrictions associated with the pandemic. In the United States, for example, six of the top ten companies in patenting in 2020 showed a decline in relevant indicators. The authors analyzed the amount of R&D funding in the world’s leading countries and in particular in the US; studied the dynamics of IPOs in the world as a whole, by macroregions, by leading countries and by leading companies in terms of the amount of funds raised, as well as by technological areas, which most of the IPO companies belonged to. The most active companies in the US and EU patent offices were identified, as well as technological areas in which the greatest inventive activity was noted. The key program documents of the scientific and technical policy of the UNCTAD, China, the USA, India, Japan, the EU and Great Britain are examined.