Global University Rankings 2025 Reveal Strong Links Between Higher Education, Industry, and Innovation

The Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 places universities at the centre of global innovation efforts. New data reveal how institutions across various income levels are enhancing their roles as hubs of research, collaboration, and technology transfer. A key addition to this year’s index is the indicator' University Industry and International Engagement,' which utilises insights from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings to assess how universities connect with businesses and international partners.

According to the GII, universities in high-income economies continue to lead in global connectivity and collaboration. Institutions in Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, and the United States are among the strongest performers, with deep ties to industry and international networks. The City University of Hong Kong ranked highest overall, reflecting the region’s strong integration into global research and innovation ecosystems. The report also noted that while wealthier economies hold a clear advantage in the global university ranking, universities in emerging economies are making notable progress. In the upper-middle-income group, China ranked 19th, led by Peking University, which supports Beijing’s position among the top global innovation clusters. South Africa and Türkiye followed, showing increased collaboration between academia and the private sector.

Among lower-middle-income economies, India stood out for its strong industry engagement, driven by institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt performed well in international outlook, highlighting the growing global connections of higher education and research institutions in the Middle East. In the low-income category, Uganda led in international engagement, followed by Rwanda, Mozambique, and Ethiopia. These universities are building valuable links with global partners, contributing to regional innovation despite limited resources.

The GII also identified regional leaders in innovation linkages. In Europe, universities in the Netherlands, particularly Maastricht University, were praised for open innovation and cross-border collaboration. In North America, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology continued to demonstrate excellence in combining frontier research with strong industry ties. Qatar University emerged as a leader in Northern Africa and Western Asia, while Amirkabir University of Technology in Iran was recognised for its applied sciences and growing interest in commercialising research.

In Latin America, Brazil led the region, with the University of São Paulo contributing to São Paulo’s first-ever entry into the global top 50 innovation clusters. This marked a significant achievement for the region’s international universities and global connections. The GII findings reinforce the view that universities are essential anchors for national and regional innovation systems. Their ability to link research with markets, talent with opportunity, and local ideas with global networks plays a vital role in shaping the future of technology and innovation. As governments continue to promote collaboration between academia and industry, research and technology transfer are becoming increasingly important in global rankings.

These insights offer a clearer understanding of which universities are ranking high in the Global Innovation Index of 2025, which countries have the most innovative higher education institutions, and what the top universities for science and technology in the world are. They also show how international partnerships and investment from wealthier economies influence access to education and innovation outcomes.

Editor’s Note:

The Global Innovation Index 2025 provides a clear view of how universities are acting as catalysts for change in today’s innovation landscape. A new measure, University Industry and International Engagement, has been introduced to assess how effectively universities partner with businesses and global institutions. This is important because innovation is not only the result of research, but also how that research is shared, applied, and turned into practical solutions. The report shows that universities in high-income countries are leading the way in collaboration. Institutions in Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and the United States have built strong linkages with industry and international networks. However, what is especially noteworthy are the strides being made by universities in emerging economies. China, India, Uganda, and Brazil are forming robust partnerships, proving that innovation is not confined to developed nations. This shift matters for two key reasons: first, it shows that middle- and low-income countries are producing new players in global innovation; second, it demonstrates that higher education is evolving to address real-world challenges—whether through technology, research, or skilled graduates. The GII now uses data from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings to measure how universities interact with each other. This includes industry income, patent activity, international staff and students, and joint research publications. These are practical indicators of how universities contribute to national economic growth and global knowledge exchange. Governments, industries, and education leaders should take note. Supporting partnerships between universities is not just good policy; it is essential for building strong, competitive economies.

Skoobuzz believes that the future success of universities lies in connectivity. The most innovative and impactful institutions are those that link research to markets, students to career paths, and local ideas to global platforms. This understanding of connectivity as a driver of innovation is central to the insights provided by the Global Innovation Index 2025.

FAQs

Q1. What is the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, and why is it important?

The Global Innovation Index 2025 tracks how countries perform in innovation, including research investment, technology transfer, and collaboration. It highlights how universities, businesses, and governments work together to turn ideas into impact. This year’s index introduces a new indicator focused on University Industry and International Engagement, offering deeper insights into how universities contribute to innovation ecosystems.

Q2. What does the new university engagement indicator measure?

The new indicator (5.2.3) combines data from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings to assess two key areas: industry engagement and international outlook. It looks at how universities earn income from industry, receive patent citations, and connect globally through international staff, students, and co-authored research publications.

Q3. Which universities lead the Global Innovation Index in 2025?

Universities in high-income economies continue to lead. The City University of Hong Kong ranks highest overall, followed by top institutions in the Netherlands, Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, and the United States. These universities are recognised for strong industry partnerships and global research networks.

Q4. How do wealthy economies influence global university rankings?

Wealthy economies often invest more in research, technology, and international collaboration. This gives their universities an advantage in global rankings, especially in areas like innovation linkages, industry engagement, and international partnerships.

Q5. Which countries have the most innovative higher education institutions among emerging economies?

Among upper-middle-income economies, China ranks 19th, led by Peking University. South Africa and Türkiye also showed strong performances. In lower-middle-income economies, India leads in industry engagement, with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) playing a key role. Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt stand out for their international outlook.