No. 29 – Portugal

Overall score: 0.60
Innovation inputs score: 0.92
Innovation performance score: 0.22
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $245 billion
Foreign Direct Investment: $69.2 billion

The Portuguese government is positioning the country to be a leader in the development of electric cars. On Mar. 6, Portugal signed a preliminary agreement with Nissan (NSANY) for the Japanese automaker to study opening a factory producing advanced lithium-ion batteries. If the deal goes through, Portugal would be the only country outside Japan where Nissan produces such batteries. By 2011, Portugal plans to have 1,300 stations nationwide for drivers to recharge their electric cars.