Artificial intelligence is fueling a major rebound in global innovation investment, according to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2026 Global Innovation Index. The report, released on September 30, 2026, highlights a surge in venture capital and research spending alongside the rapid growth of startups based on advanced scientific research.

Global R&D expenditure grew by over 3.3% in real terms in 2025 and is projected to reach $3.4 trillion in 2026. Corporate R&D, led by software, AI, and defense sectors, jumped 5.8% to a record $1.5 trillion. Venture capital funding for innovative startups saw its strongest gain since 2021, rising 28% to $510 billion in 2025, though investment is increasingly concentrated in AI, which accounted for 53% of global deal value.

The report identifies a boom in “deep-science” startups, with more than 30,000 founded since 2000. Their share of venture-backed startups reached 16% in 2025, and their collective valuation hit $7.6 trillion, a 23% increase from 2024. The United States leads with 12,752 such firms, followed by China (3,466) and the United Kingdom (2,133).

WIPO Director General Daren Tang stated that AI is opening new technological frontiers across all scientific fields, with these startups active in semiconductors, robotics, quantum computing, life sciences, space, and advanced materials.