Moscow is on top 10 list of most innovative global cities

Moscow ranks ninth in the HSE Global Cities Innovation Index 2024. Developed by the Institute for Statistical Studies and Knowledge Economy at the Higher School of Economics (HSE), it analyzes competitive advantages of cities in terms of their attractiveness for top dogs in academia, high-tech and creative industries.

Moscow’s key achievements are in the Technological Development (7 th place), Creative Industries (15 th place) and Urban Environment (6 th place) categories.

“Moscow is among the top ten most attractive innovative cities in the world. For us, this is the result of continued and consistent efforts as we have created a large comprehensive framework to drive high-tech and innovative solutions. In fact, the municipality backs innovation at all stages, from ideation and launch to scaling. As a result, we see the rapid growth and modernization of the capital, which is getting increasingly attractive and technologically advanced both for Russia and for the entire world,” said Kristina Kostroma, Head of the Moscow Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development.

Moscow ranked fourth among the top art cities as it has more and more prominent universities and research centers; local universities enrolled over 392,800 students, which is 41,600 more than a year before. The city also holds a strong position in the music industry and arts and is also close to the top because of the Moscow Innovation Cluster embracing about 40,000 participants and partners on a common digital platform i.moscow. The latter is used to build cooperation between tech businesses, research teams and big corporations, also offering more than 20 innovation support modalities for manufacturers.

Moscow ranks sixth in the world in terms of urban development, ahead of Tokyo, Paris and New York, as it boasts a high level of mobility, a favorable environment for doing business and an accessible urban space. The city is also getting more attractive to tourists with new cultural sites and recreation areas.

Further, the capital is driving metaverse projects; for example, its Meta Moscow platform offers virtual tours of landmarks and helps plan local urban infrastructure.

The 3 rd edition of the HSE Global Cities Innovation Index covers over 1,000 cities in 144 countries, which are home to the world’s first-tier companies and universities, outstanding personalities, including Nobel Prize winners, highly cited scholars and most creative people.

The HSE Index is based on 90 indicators calculated using statistically audited international data sources. It is bias-free and very reliable since it does not use expert assessments or administrative data.

Last year, Moscow ranked tenth in the HSE Global Cities Innovation Index.

В прошлом году Москва заняла 10-е место в рейтинге инновационной привлекательности мировых городов.