The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) reported on Tuesday that artificial intelligence (AI) is stimulating the recovery of venture capital and research and development (R&D) spending. Simultaneously, a new generation of deep science startups is turning advanced scientific research into new industries.
According to the WIPO Global Innovation Index for 2026 (2026 GII), Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, South Korea, and Singapore led the rankings. Over the last decade, countries such as China, India, Vietnam, Turkey, the Philippines, Morocco, and Indonesia have seen significant acceleration in growth.
The report indicates that global R&D spending increased by more than 3.3% in real terms in 2025, and is expected to reach $3.4 trillion by 2026. Corporate R&D spending grew by 5.8% in 2025, reaching a record $1.5 trillion, driven by research in software, AI, and defense industries.
Venture capital funding for innovative startups increased by 28%, totaling $510 billion in 2025, marking the strongest growth since 2021. However, there is an increasing concentration of investments: AI accounted for 53% of total venture capital deal value, despite the number of deals declining for the fourth consecutive year. African startups attracted about $3.2 billion in 2025, a 40% increase.
Deep science startups are showing rapid growth: over 30,000 such companies have been created since 2000, nearly ten times the figure from 2010. Their share among venture capital-backed startups reached 16% in 2025, with these enterprises having a total valuation of $7.6 trillion, a 23% increase from 2024. Among the leaders in the number of firms are the United States (12,752), followed by China (3,466) and the United Kingdom (2,133).
The fastest growth since 2020 has been recorded in Central and South Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in Sub-Saharan Africa. These enterprises cover fields such as semiconductors, robotics, quantum computing, life sciences, space, and advanced materials.
WIPO Director General Darren Tan noted: 'AI is opening up new technological horizons in all areas of science.' He added that the 2026 GII report shows how the new generation of deep science startups is transforming breakthroughs into tangible products, reshaping fields such as life sciences, space, robotics, and clean energy.
The GII, published annually, assesses the innovation ecosystems of 139 economies using 79 different indicators.