In its annual release ranking 1,000 cities and 100 countries, StartupBlink published its Startup Ecosystem Index report, listing the top tech savvy nations across the world. Israel ranked in third place, maintaining its position from 2020, yet growing significantly close to the number two spot, the United Kingdom, in quality. The two rankings were only one point apart; the UK with 28.719 and Israel with 27.741. The United States stood at number one with 124.420. Canada and Germany took the fourth and fifth place spots.
The Index scores countries based on three factors, including quantity, or the number of startups, quality, the presence of R+D centers, unicorns, and multinational companies, and Business Environment, which considers internet speed and freedom, and English proficiency. In 2021, Israel excelled in quality, yet saw a drop from 16 to 25 in business environment based on its regulation and infrastructure.
In its report “ Many countries try to copy the Israeli model of innovation, but this ecosystem is hard to replicate,” the report concluded. “It relies on entrepreneurs who are risk-takers by nature, and a geopolitical situation which incentivizes innovation as a critical need for survival.”
