Check out the Knowledge Assessment Methodology (KAM) and Knowledge for Development Program (K4D) being developed by the World Bank. At the KAM link you will find links to the recent indices the World bank has published to compare various nations and their progress in their knowledge economy endeavors. From the More About the Knowledge Economy page:
The application of knowledge is now recognized to be one of the key sources of growth in the global economy. The term Knowledge Economy (KE) has been coined to reflect this increased importance of knowledge. A knowledge economy is one where organizations and people acquire, create, disseminate, and use knowledge more effectively for greater economic and social development.