by Werner Kunz
On February 12th, the 5th Innovation Index Coalition (IIC) Summit was held at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, bringing together an international network of scholars and partners committed to advancing customer-centric measures of firm innovativeness. The meeting represented an important step toward positioning the IIC as a more visible, and impactful research community.
The Innovation Index is currently measured on a regular basis in six countries: Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, the United States, and Spain. Several additional countries – Belgium, Australia, Vietnam, Italy, and Germany – are in the process of joining the coalition, reflecting growing global interest in comparable, customer-based measures of innovativeness.
A core element of the summit was a series of country updates in which each participating team reported on achievements and challenges in running its national Innovation Index. These discussions covered issues such as longitudinal data collection, communication with policymakers and industry stakeholders, and the translation of index results into actionable insights for business and public policy.
A stimulating atmosphere, with ambitious ideas, strategic reflections, and forward-looking discussions shaping the collective agenda. Participants emphasized a shared vision of strengthening innovation measurement and enhancing the policy relevance of the Innovation Index across different institutional and cultural contexts. The exchanges were consistently dynamic and constructive, underscoring the high level of engagement and commitment within the coalition.
One notable aspect of the meeting was that the dialogue continued well beyond the formal sessions. Informal discussions over dinner allowed participants to further refine ideas, challenge assumptions, and deepen cross-country collaborations in a relaxed yet productive setting, reinforcing the community spirit that underpins the coalition.
If you are interested in the Innovation Index Coalition or in applying the methodology in their own country, please contact Kristina Heinonen (kristina.heinonen@hanken.fi) or me (werner.kunz@umb.edu) for further information.
