Romania is ranked #49 (with 34.3 points) in Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, from 139 economies analyzed, according to reportpublished in March 2026 by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), specialized agency of the UN (Geneva).

Global Innovation Index evaluates countries' capacity to generate innovation based on 80 indicators grouped into 7 categories: business environment, economic structure, infrastructure, research and human capital, institutions, know-how and technology, and creativity and branding. The index also analyzes the value of brands, export of creative products and solutions, the media and entertainment market, as well as activity in the field of patents and trademarks.

The role of Transilvania Bank in Romania's performance

Banca Transilvania is among the main contributors to Romania's performance in the Global Innovation Index 2025, being present in two key categories of the report:

• Romanian companies with the highest brand value;
• companies with the highest intensity of intangible assets.

WIPO also takes into account the ranking of Romanian companies with the highest brand value globally, made by Brand Finance. Banca Transilvania occupies in 2025 the 3rd place, with a brand value of nearly 955 million dollars (+39% compared to 2024 and climbing 27 positions), being in the top alongside Dacia and eMAG. According to Brand Finance Banking 500 2026, the brand value of Banca Transilvania exceeded 1 billion dollars.

In the category "Intangible Asset Intensity – Top 15", BT is among the Romanian companies with the highest share of intangible assets in the total value, alongside Hidroelectrica and Romgaz. The indicator reflects investments in technology, digitalization, and IT infrastructure, innovation capacity, and orientation towards products and services with high added value.

Romania, through the prism of the Global Innovation Index 2025

According to WIPO, Romania records:

• solid performances, above the regional average in: Infrastructure (31st place) and Knowledge & Technology Outputs (40th place).
• challenges: Institutions (rank 85), Human capital and research (rank 72), Market sophistication (rank 62), which limit the innovation potential of the economy.

Although Romania does not have unicorns (private technology companies valued at over 1 billion dollars) in 2025, it marks positive developments in IT exports, high-tech production, brand value, and export complexity - factors that contribute to its position in the Global Innovation Index.

Top 10 most innovative economies:

1. Switzerland
2. Sweden
3. The United States of America
4. South Korea
5. Singapore
6. Great Britain
7. Finland
8. The Netherlands
9. Denmark
10. China

The results of the Global Innovation Index 2025 indicate that Romania is advancing in areas such as digitalization, technology, and intangible assets. The increase in investments in innovation and human capital remains essential for Romania to have increasingly better positions in the global ranking in the coming years. In this context, BT's contribution is an example of how the financial sector can support the competitiveness and transformation of the Romanian economy.