Morocco Reaches Record Position in Global Innovation Index 2026

Morocco has reached its strongest position to date in the Global Innovation Index (GII), climbing three places to rank 54th worldwide in the 2026 edition. The result reflects the country’s continued progress in developing innovation-driven industries, strengthening intellectual property activity and expanding higher-value economic capabilities.

Published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the latest ranking places Morocco fourth among lower-middle-income economies and seventh across North Africa and West Asia.

A Decade of Progress

Morocco’s latest position represents a significant improvement compared with its ranking earlier in the decade. The country was placed 75th in the Global Innovation Index in 2020 before moving up to 57th in 2025. Its rise to 54th in 2026 marks its highest ranking since the index was introduced.

Morocco is also identified among a group of economies that have made particularly strong progress in innovation rankings over the past ten years. WIPO highlights Morocco alongside China, India, Vietnam, Türkiye, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Industrial Development Supports Innovation Growth

The Moroccan innovation story is closely connected to the development of its industrial base. According to WIPO, the country is helping to drive innovation across North Africa through industrial development and the increasing commercial use of intangible assets.

These assets include areas such as trademarks and industrial designs, alongside growing activity in high-technology industries. This combination points to an economy where innovation is increasingly linked to commercial production, industrial competitiveness and the development of products and services with greater added value.

Strong Performance in Industrial Designs and Trademarks

Morocco’s individual results across several innovation indicators help explain its overall ranking. The country placed fifth globally for industrial designs and eighth for intangible asset intensity.

It also ranked 13th worldwide for labour productivity growth and 16th for trademarks. These results underline the importance of intellectual property, productivity and industrial capability within Morocco’s wider innovation strategy.

What Innovation Growth Means for Morocco’s Workforce

A stronger innovation ecosystem can also create new demands in the labour market. As companies adopt more advanced technologies and develop higher-value products and services, demand can grow for people with skills in engineering, technology, digital systems, research, design, manufacturing, data and business development.

For Moroccan professionals and graduates, this creates opportunities to build careers in sectors where technical knowledge is increasingly combined with commercial and digital expertise. Continuous learning and the ability to adapt to changing technologies are likely to remain important as businesses invest in innovation and productivity.

Innovation and Morocco’s Economic Ambitions

Morocco’s movement to 54th in the 2026 Global Innovation Index provides another indication of the country’s expanding innovation capacity. The progress made since 2020 suggests that industrial development, intellectual property and productivity are becoming increasingly important components of the national economy.

For employers, investors and professionals, the ranking also points to a growing environment for innovation-led business activity. As Morocco continues to strengthen its position, the development of the skills needed to support advanced industries will remain an important part of that progress.

Looking to develop your career in Morocco? Explore jobs, career opportunities and recruitment events on JobExpo.ma and discover new ways to connect with employers and growing industries across the country.