The Chinese mainland has gained the 34th place in the Global Innovation Index among 141 economies worldwide, while Hong Kong ranks eighth, CRI reported.
Among the top ten economies, seven are European countries; two are Asian economies, Hong Kong and Singapore; and the United States is placed 10th.
This year's Global Innovation Index was released on July 3 by the European Institute of Business Administration and the World Intellectual Property Organization.
The Chinese mainland ranked 30th last year.
However, in the Innovation Efficiency Index, which examines how economies leverage their enabling environments to stimulate innovative results, the Chinese mainland ranked first, followed by India.