Until 2021 it was published by WIPO, in partnership with Cornell University, INSEAD and other organisations and institutions.

Each of these pillars describe an attribute of innovation, and comprise up to five indicators, and their score is calculated by the weighted average method.

[5] Since its inception in 2007, an increasing number of governments systematically analyze their annual GII results and design policy responses to improve their performance.

[6][7][8][9][10] The index is mentioned in a resolution on science, technology and innovation for sustainable development adopted on 19 December 2019 by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

[11] The index has been criticized for giving excessive significance attributed to factors that aren’t integral to innovation.