The State of São Paulo bears the lead in the innovation ranking in the country. The position was revealed by Brazil Index of Innovation and Development (IBID), released by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). 
On a scale of 0 to 1, São Paulo obtained the note 0.872. This performance is almost three times the national average (0.296). In addition to São Paulo, five states exceed the average: Santa Catarina (0.449), Paraná (0.413), Rio de Janeiro (0.410), Rio Grande do Sul (0.398) and Minas Gerais (0.368).
The last placed in the classification are Alagoas (0.148), Maranhão (0.127) and Acre (0.122).
Since 2014, when the index has been calculated, São Paulo occupies the top. However, in recent years it has been possible to see changes, such as the advances of Santa Catarina and Paraná.
In 2015, Santa Catarina was third, rising to second in 2020 and remaining in 2025. Paraná, which was the sixth five years ago, now figures as the best positioned third. Rio de Janeiro fell from Monday to fourth position within a decade.
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“Light deconcentration”
Despite the leadership of São Paulo, INPI understands that innovation in the country has “light deconcentration”, with seven states decreasing the distance to the Paulistas: Santa Catarina, Paraná, Espírito Santo, Paraíba, Alagoas, Piauí and Amapá.
In 2015, the average score of federative units (UF) corresponded to 28% of São Paulo’s performance. By 2025, this proportion rose to 29%. For INPI, this dynamic indicates “a light but consistent, movement of deconcentration of innovative activities in the country.”
Santa Catarina and Paraná were the highlights, both reduced in six percentage points the distance compared to São Paulo.
At the time of the release of the index, last Friday (29), during the event Startup Summit, in Florianópolis, the chief economist of the INPI, Rodrigo Ventura, stressed that Ibid shows, in the last 10 years, the “New Geography of Brazilian Innovation”.
“Innovation is no longer exclusive to the big centers and spread to other regions, attracting investments and boosting new business. We are seeing the advancement of entrepreneurship and the emergence of startup poles [empresas com potencial de inovação e grande uso de tecnologia] Throughout Brazil, strengthening this process of productive deconcentration, “he said.
Methodology
Linked to the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC), INPI is the body responsible for registering patent requests in the country.
The index created by the Institute takes into account a series of questions linked to innovation and development, such as institutions, human capital, infrastructure, economy, business, knowledge and technology and creative economy.
Within these pillars, there are subdivisions that evaluate issues related to credit, investments, education, regulatory environment, sustainability, knowledge creation, intangible assets, among others.
Brazil in the world
Ibid was inspired by the World Intellectual Property Organization (IGI) Global Index (IGI). In the latest edition of IGI, 2024, Brazil is the 50th of 133 countries. In 2023, it was 49%.
Despite the retreat from one year to the next, the country has a break from 20 positions since 2015. By occupying the 50th position, Brazil appears as the main Latin American nation, ahead of Chile (51st) and Mexico (56th).
