Application Deadline: October 30, 2026
Applications are now open for the 2027 WIPO Global Innovation Index Fellowship. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is inviting applications for its Global Innovation Index (GII) Fellowship in Geneva, Switzerland, offering qualified candidates an opportunity to gain international research experience in economics, data science, innovation policy and statistical analysis.
(a)Organizational Setting
Fellowships aim to provide fellows with experience to strengthen their knowledge and professional competence, which they can apply in their professional field once they have completed their fellowship with WIPO. Fellowships are awarded for specific activities, which provide the fellows training, within the approved workplan of the employing office.
The fellowship position is located in the Department for Economics and Data Analytics (DEDA), IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector (IES). The Composite Indicator Research Section in DEDA coordinates the publication of WIPO’s flagship Global Innovation Index (GII) used by Member States and innovation actors to improve innovation outcomes and national innovation metrics, policies or strategies. It explores new data sources for better measuring innovation and creativity, in view of improving national innovation ecosystems.
Purpose statement
The GII Fellow is expected to contribute to the DEDA-IES research and activities on tracking global innovation trends. This involves supporting the collection and analysis of data underlying the GII, developing novel innovation and innovation policy indicators, and contributing to the GII’s use by Member States to improve their innovation ecosystems and policies. The Fellow will also support the day-to-day project management tasks related to the GII.
Reporting Lines
The GII Fellow will work under the supervision of the Senior Economist of the Composite Indicator Research Section, Department for Economics and Data Analytics.
Duties and responsibilities
The GII Fellow will perform the following principal duties:
- Collecting, analyzing, auditing, and processing innovation-related data, while ensuring data quality, including assessing new data sources related to the GII iLens Innovation Lab.
- Developing and delivering the Global Innovation Tracker, while updating the existing metrics and incorporating related novel metrics.
- Providing substantive input into the development of the annual GII report, including the analysis of country performance based on innovation indicators.
- Supporting the day-to-day project management tasks of the GII, including correspondence management, content for social media and the WIPO website, and the finalization of report elements.
- Providing support for GII-related dissemination activities, including producing data visualizations and drafting talking points and related briefing documents.
Requirements
Education
(Essential)
- Advanced university degree (master’s level) in economics, statistics, data science or any related field.
Experience
(Essential)
- Relevant experience in economics (or similar) and be very comfortable with data ingestion and database handling large data sets and indicator development.
(Desirable):
- Have a background or interest in innovation studies and policy.
Language
(Essential)
- Excellent written and spoken knowledge of English.
(Desirable)
- Knowledge of any other official UN languages would be an advantage.
Benefits
- Term of fellowship: up to 12 months, with the possibility of extension one or more times, provided the maximum cumulative length does not exceed three years.
- Stipend: is set in accordance with the level of qualifications and experience of the Fellow (stipend starts from monthly 3,300 CHF up to a maximum 6,000 CHF).
- Travel expenses: WIPO shall contribute towards the cost of the fellow’s travel on engagement and separation from service. If necessary, WIPO may provide assistance in obtaining an entry visa to Switzerland.
- WIPO contributes towards medical insurance and provides accident insurance coverage during the course of the fellowship.
- WIPO will request a “carte de légitimation” for the Fellow, which serves as a residence and work permit, from the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations Office and to the other international organizations in Geneva. Family members of the Fellow are not eligible for a “carte de legitimation.”
- Tax and social security: Fellows shall be solely responsible for meeting any taxation and social security obligations that may arise directly or indirectly from their contract with WIPO.
Specific skills and competencies (Essential)
- Proficiency in using specialized software and programming languages for data science, database management and statistical/econometric analysis (in particular R and/or Python).
- Demonstrated ability to use code hosting platforms such as GitHub and data storage tools, including AWS and MySQL.
- Experience working with large cross-country datasets and/or development of composite indicators.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain data visualization dashboards or tools for public-facing publications.
- Experience in producing public-facing content for social media and web use.
- Knowledge of/experience with applied economics and/or innovation economics.
- Strong drafting and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate technical findings to non-technical audiences.
- Good time management skills, with a demonstrated ability to work autonomously and manage competing deadlines.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to maintain effective working relations in a multi-cultural environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
4. Organizational competencies
1. Communicating effectively
2. Showing team spirit
3. Demonstrating integrity
4. Valuing diversity
5. Producing results
6. Showing service orientation
7. Seeing the big picture
8. Seeking change and innovation
9. Developing yourself and others
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the WIPO Global Innovation Index Fellowship
