KAIST is Asia’s Most Innovative University, According to Reuters

The Reuters Top 75: Asia’s Most Innovative Universities, through an investigation of several institutions and organisations all over the world, lists an accumulation of educational institutions found to be making the biggest contribution to the global economy through research and the invention of new technologies. Patents acquired are a major player in the methodology used.

South Korea’s Korea Advanced Institute of Science & technology (KAIST) emerged at the top of the list, while 20 other South Korean universities placed within the list as well. Following the aforementioned country’s lead, Japan too has more than a dozen universities ranking high, with the top 10 most innovative of Asia’s universities all belonging to either Japan or South Korea. Japan’s University of Tokyo, meanwhile, is second only to KAIST.

Many of China’s universities too make it into the rankings, the highest ranking of which goes to Tsinghua University. However, China, with its large population and land area and its few corresponding universities placing in the list falls short of the success of South Korea and Japan; the reason for this being, according to Reuters, that China tends to submit minimal research conducted to the international patent authorities, as well as not usually being seen to partner with the private industry.

The country’s population and corresponding universities is also seen to fall short in India, where only two universities make the list, despite its population surpassing the billion mark.

Outside of Northeast Asia, Singapore’s National University of Singapore is ranked just outside the top 10, at 11, while Malaysian universities Universiti Malaya and Universiti Putra Malaysia place at the very bottom of the list, at 75 and 73, respectively. New Zealand’s University of Auckland makes it at 27th place, while six Australian universities make an appearance as well, out of the top 20.

Several countries, despite their massive populations, are not to be seen in the list, such as those of Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan and Bangladesh, among others. However, Reuters states that “just because a country doesn’t have any schools in the Reuters Top 75 doesn’t mean their universities aren’t doing important research. Since the ranking measures innovation on an institutional level, it may overlook particularly innovative departments or programs. A university might rank low for overall innovation, but still operate one of the world’s most innovative nanotechnology laboratories, for instance. And it’s important to remember that whether they rank in the top 10 or somewhere in the 70s, all the universities ranked in the Asia Top 75 count among the world’s best – they all produce original research, create useful technology and stimulate the global economy.”

To read the entire list of institutions ranked in Reuters Top 75: Asia’s Most Innovative Universities, click here.

(photo courtesy: dhakatribune.com, studyoverseas.soton.ac.uk)