Where Does Global Innovation Take Shape?

According to the 2026 edition of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Innovation Index, the world's five leading innovation clusters are:

 

1. Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou

2. Tokyo-Yokohama

3. San José-San Francisco

4. Beijing

5. Seoul

 

These clusters are identified through an analysis of international patent applications, scientific publications, and venture capital activity. They illustrate the importance of strong synergies among research institutions, businesses, talent, funding, and intellectual property services in transforming innovation into economic growth.

 

Key takeaways:

 

China (25 clusters) and the United States (20 clusters) together account for nearly half of the world's top 100 innovation clusters. London, ranked 8th, and Paris, ranked 11th, are the only European clusters in the top 15.
 

Innovation continues to spread globally, with major clusters emerging in middle-income economies such as Brazil, Egypt, Malaysia, Mexico, and Türkiye. Riyadh has entered the top 100 for the first time, while Ningde, China, recorded the strongest rise of the year.

 

For intellectual property professionals and innovative companies, this ranking confirms the strategic role of intellectual property rights as both an indicator and a driver of innovation within the world's most dynamic ecosystems.