Fellowship Global Innovation Index (GII)

Grade: N/A

Organizational unit: Composite Indicator Research Section, Department for Economics and Data Analytics, IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector

Vacancy reference: 26307-FEL

Appointment type: Fellowship

Application deadline: 30-Oct-2026, 10:59:00 PM

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING APPLICATION DEADLINE: please note that the deadline for applications is indicated in local time as per the time zone of the applicant’s location.

(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. 

(b)          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.

(c)                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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

   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

5. Terms and conditions

a)    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.

b)    Anticipated Start Date: January 4, 2027.

c)    Location: WIPO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.

d)    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).

e)    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.

a)    WIPO contributes towards medical insurance and provides accident insurance coverage during the course of the fellowship.

b)    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.”

c)    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. 

Additional information

 

WIPO values diversity among its personnel and is committed to equal employment opportunities.

We welcome applications from qualified candidates from unrepresented Member States of WIPO, and from underrepresented geographical regions and groups, including people with disabilities. If candidates need any accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, they should contact their HR focal point when they receive an invitation.

Fellows are not staff members of WIPO, and the position does not lead to any employment rights and entitlements beyond the terms of the fellowship.

The Fellowship will take place in Geneva, Switzerland and it cannot be carried out remotely.

By completing an application, candidates understand that any willful misrepresentation made on this web site, or on any other documents submitted to WIPO during the application, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process, or termination of employment with WIPO at a later date, if that employment resulted from such willful misrepresentations.

In the event that your candidature is shortlisted, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of an identification and of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WIPO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/.

Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and these will be reviewed individually.

Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening. Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory professional references.