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The International Finance Forum (IFF), a high-level permanent institution for dialog and multilateral cooperation in the field of global finance established in 2003 by leaders from China, the United States, the European Union, and other G20 nations, along with international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), plays a crucial role in fostering international collaboration and addressing critical global challenges. Its work spans across economics, finance, and technology, shaping policies that impact industries worldwide. Among its recent significant projects is the Global AI Competitiveness Index, an efficient tool designed to assess and compare the AI strength of nations, evaluating key factors including technical development, human capital and talent, policy and regulation, and market infrastructure.
Deep Knowledge Group (DKG) was delighted to contribute substantial analytics to the inaugural edition of this report. With its strong expertise in data science and AI analytics, DKG and its AI-focused subsidiary AI Industry Analytics (AiiA) worked alongside other world-renowned experts such as Dr. Patrick Glauner and Jian Zhou to provide insights into AI ecosystems globally.
Dr. Glauner is a well-known international thought-leader on AI and one of Europe’s top AI experts, having advised the parliaments of France, Germany, and Luxembourg as an expert witness on AI who also regularly advises international, European, federal, state, and local politicians, and Zhou Jian is a Data Expert serving as Head of Business Intelligence for The Yuan, tech community focused on artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, Machine Learning (ML), and related disciplines. We were delighted to have been able to engage in fruitful synergy and collaboration with them on the IFF’s new index, and to have helped add to the latest offering in the IFF’s very long line of best-in-class global economic reports, analyses and indices.
One of the critical motivations behind DKG’s involvement was the recognition that many existing AI indices often overlook emerging regions, particularly in Asia and the Middle East, as well as economically developed regions often underrepresented in the global industrial arena. Countries like India and those in the GCC are rapidly advancing in AI and deserve equal representation on the global stage.
Many indices often omit the activities and developments of emerging regions, as well as countries that lack a large English-speaking contingent, such as Japan and South Korea, and this is one key aspect that IFF’s Global AI Competitiveness Index addresses.
This collaboration marks the beginning of a continued commitment to developing a more inclusive and objective approach to understanding AI's global landscape -- one that recognizes both established and rising AI hubs.
The Special Nature of the IFF Global AI Index
The IFF Global AI Competitiveness Index stands apart from other AI indices due to its comprehensive and inclusive methodology.
The index is built around four key pillars: technical development and applications, human capital, policy and regulation, and market infrastructure and acceptance.
These metrics offer a holistic view of a country’s AI ecosystem, not only evaluating the quantity of AI companies but also the quality of talent, the strength of regulatory frameworks, and the extent of AI adoption across industries. This broad approach enables a more nuanced comparison of AI capabilities and highlights both strengths and opportunities for growth in different regions.
The new report published by the IFF covers the first of these four pillars (Analysing AI Competitiveness from the Enterprise Perspective), and will be followed up by additional reports that cover the remaining major themes and methodological domains upon which the full index is built.
Unlike many existing indices that tend to focus primarily on well-established AI hubs like the United States and China, this index emphasizes a broader, more global perspective. It takes into account emerging AI markets in regions such as Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe, providing a more accurate representation of the global AI landscape. What truly makes the IFF AI Index special is its commitment to equity. By including countries and regions that are often overlooked in traditional indices, it fosters a more inclusive and balanced view of global AI development, helping to ensure that emerging players are not left behind in the race for AI innovation.
Deep Knowledge Group’s Contribution to the Report
Deep Knowledge Group’s contribution to the Global AI Competitiveness Index centered on the provision of key analytical insights that enhanced the report's depth and accuracy. DKG’s expertise in big data analytics and AI system modelling was instrumental in assessing AI capabilities across diverse regions, particularly focusing on emerging AI markets that often lack visibility in global reports. By leveraging DKG’s extensive data-driven methodology, the index not only evaluates traditional AI powerhouses like the United States but also offers a deeper understanding of rising players in regions such as India, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Israel and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Deep Knowledge Group has developed specific techniques and technologies to profile different regional industrial ecosystems to an unprecedented scope and extent through its Ecosystem Mapping and Industrial Big Data Analytics activities, and was therefore uniquely positioned to contribute data and analytics to the report covering regional AI ecosystems which are specifically absent in other international databases like Crunchbase, PitchBook and CB Inisghts.
One of the core areas where DKG made a significant impact was in data sourcing for underrepresented regions. The group worked closely with IFF analysts to develop robust data sets on AI startups, talent pools, policy frameworks, and infrastructure in emerging markets. DKG’s analysis helped highlight the growing AI research and development activities in countries like India, where government-led initiatives are rapidly advancing the nation’s AI capabilities.
DKG also provided valuable insights into regional AI strengths, such as India’s commitment to AI education, Japan’s leadership in robotics, and the GCC’s heavy investment in AI-driven economies. This holistic and inclusive approach is essential for fostering global collaboration and ensuring that all nations have the opportunity to contribute to the AI revolution.
Overview of Key Findings from the Report
The Global AI Competitiveness Index offers a comprehensive overview of AI capabilities across the world, providing critical insights into where nations stand in the rapidly evolving AI race. One of the most striking findings is the disparity in AI company distribution, with the United States dominating the global landscape, hosting over 36% of all AI companies. The U.S. is followed by India and the United Kingdom, which together, along with other top nations, represent 73% of the world’s AI firms. This distribution highlights the deepening concentration of AI activity in a few select regions, while underscoring the significant role of the U.S. as a leader in AI innovation due to its extensive infrastructure, venture capital environment, and research excellence.
The report also emphasizes the growing importance of emerging AI markets. For example, India’s national AI strategy, coupled with substantial investments in AI R&D and a large talent pool, positions the country as a major future player. Similarly, the UK’s strategic focus on AI research and policy development, supported by top academic institutions like Oxford and Cambridge, continues to drive strong growth in its AI sector.
Additionally, the index reveals that countries with strong policy frameworks and government support—such as India and the UK—are positioning themselves for sustained growth and global leadership in AI. The index reinforces that fostering a supportive ecosystem is key to a nation’s long-term AI competitiveness.
Emerging AI Hubs: A Focus on Asia, GCC, and Beyond
While the United States and China dominate the global AI stage, the Global AI Competitiveness Index underscores the rising influence of emerging regions such as Asia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and Japan. These regions are not only adopting AI technologies but also creating unique ecosystems that are accelerating innovation and attracting global attention.
India is a prime example of an emerging AI hub. The country has developed a national AI strategy, investing heavily in AI research and development, and setting ambitious targets to train 1 million AI professionals by 2025. With an AI market projected to reach USD 20 billion by 2025, India’s combination of a large, young talent pool and government-backed initiatives, including tax incentives for startups and AI infrastructure development, positions it as a significant player in the global AI race.
The GCC nations, led by countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are also making impressive strides in AI. With billions of dollars in AI investments and a clear focus on AI-driven economies, these nations are rapidly integrating AI into key sectors such as healthcare, energy, and finance, aiming to diversify their economies beyond oil dependency.
Japan, with its emphasis on robotics and AI in manufacturing, remains a global leader in applying AI to real-world industries. The country’s focus on smart cities and aging population solutions is positioning it at the forefront of AI-powered societal transformation.
These emerging regions are not just followers but are developing innovative AI solutions that could shape the future of the global AI ecosystem.
Why the Global AI Index Matters
The Global AI Competitiveness Index is more than just a tool for benchmarking national AI capabilities; it is a vital framework for understanding the global AI landscape and fostering international cooperation. By expanding the scope to include emerging AI hubs alongside traditional powerhouses, the index provides a holistic view of the diverse trajectories countries are taking toward AI development. This approach not only highlights global leadership in AI but also offers crucial insights into best practices, regional strengths, and opportunities for collaboration.
What truly sets this index apart is its emphasis on equity. As AI becomes a cornerstone of future economies, ensuring that countries—especially those outside the well-established centers – are given equal recognition and support is essential for achieving inclusive growth. By focusing on both AI policy frameworks and real-world applications, the index helps identify areas where emerging nations can leapfrog technological barriers, advancing faster than traditional models might predict.
Furthermore, the index serves as a call to action for governments, entrepreneurs, and researchers alike. Understanding a nation’s AI competitiveness, not just in terms of company numbers but through human capital, infrastructure, and policy, is essential for making informed decisions on investments, collaborations, and global strategies. Ultimately, the Global AI Index is a tool for fostering global cooperation and ensuring AI’s benefits are shared across all nations, driving equitable progress in the field.
Future Directions and Commitment to Continued Collaboration
Deep Knowledge Group (DKG) remains committed to supporting the ongoing development and refinement of projects like the Global AI Competitiveness Index. While this index provides invaluable insights into the current state of AI across nations, DKG recognizes that the AI landscape is evolving rapidly, and there is much more to explore.
Moving forward, DKG’s involvement will focus on enhancing the data coverage and improving the granularity of its global AI industry and governance analysis, especially for emerging regions whose AI ecosystems are still in the early stages of development.
One of the key areas for future expansion is the integration of more dynamic, real-time data to track the pace of AI innovation and adoption.
The global AI race is fluid, with new policies, startups, and technological breakthroughs occurring at an accelerated rate. By incorporating these changes into future iterations of the index, DKG aims to provide an even more up-to-date and actionable resource for policymakers, business leaders, and researchers alike.
Moreover, DKG is dedicated to ensuring that the Global AI Index continues to be an inclusive and objective tool for cross-border collaboration. As AI becomes increasingly central to global development, DKG’s goal is to help countries, especially emerging ones, leverage the insights from the index to build sustainable, innovative AI ecosystems that can contribute to the collective progress of humanity. DKG will continue to uphold these mandates and pursue these outcomes through the production of open-access and stakeholder-targeted AI industry and ecosystem mapping and monitoring through its dedicated AI analytics subsidiary, AI Industry Analytics (AiiA), as well as the development of AI-focused Big Data Analytics Systems and Market Intelligence Dashboards across industry, finance, investment, governance and policy to optimize the data-driven strategic decision making of major industry participants, governments and policy-makers, ensuring access to the broadest and most actional set of tools for ensuring safety, equity, sustainability, transparency and competitiveness in future AI implementation and development.
Conclusion
The Global AI Competitiveness Index is a groundbreaking initiative that provides a comprehensive, data-driven perspective on AI capabilities across the globe. It goes beyond traditional AI powerhouses to include emerging regions, offering a more balanced and inclusive view of AI development. This broader scope is essential as it highlights both the strengths and growth potential of nations, enabling a deeper understanding of the diverse paths countries are taking toward AI innovation.
Deep Knowledge Group (DKG) is proud to have contributed to the creation of this first edition, bringing its expertise in data analytics and AI ecosystem modeling to ensure that underrepresented regions—such as India, Japan, and the GCC—receive the attention they deserve. The insights gained from this report will help guide global collaboration, enabling countries to learn from one another’s successes and identify best practices that can accelerate AI development worldwide.
As AI becomes increasingly pivotal to shaping the future of industries, economies, and societies, it is crucial that equitable representation and collaborative progress take center stage. The IFF Global AI Index serves as a vital tool in this effort, fostering a more inclusive AI landscape where all nations have the opportunity to contribute and benefit from this transformative technology.
Looking ahead, DKG remains committed to supporting the continued evolution of the index, ensuring that it continues to drive global cooperation and sustainable AI growth.
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