WIPO Index Shows Innovation Funding Concentrating in AI
Research spending is rising, but venture investment is becoming more concentrated.
WIPO's 2026 Global Innovation Index kept Switzerland at the top, followed by Sweden, the United States, South Korea and Singapore. The index assesses 139 economies across 79 indicators covering innovation inputs and outputs, while several middle-income economies continued long-term gains.
WIPO estimated that global venture capital funding increased by 28 percent to 510 billion dollars in 2025. AI represented 53 percent of deal value and 77 percent during the first half of 2026, even as the number of deals declined for a fourth consecutive year. The report also identified more than 30,000 deep-science startups, showing wider geographic participation alongside persistent funding gaps during expansion.
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization, 2026-09-29.
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Research spending is rising, but venture investment is becoming more concentrated. Add one supporting fact from the article.
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- Research spending is rising, but venture investment is becoming more concentrated.
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