Global Innovation Index 2026: AI Drives Record R&D Spending, China Holds 10th Place

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released the Global Innovation Index 2026 on September 29. The report highlights that artificial intelligence is opening up new technological frontiers across scientific fields and reshaping innovation investment, driving global R&D spending to a record high in 2025.

According to the report, global R&D expenditure grew by more than 3.3% in real terms in 2025, while corporate R&D investment rose 5.8% to reach $1.5 trillion, setting a new record. The index evaluates nearly 140 economies using around 80 indicators, covering areas from R&D to high-tech trade, skilled employment, and intellectual property licensing.

In the 2026 rankings, Switzerland, Sweden, and the United States continue to lead. Emerging economies including China, India, Vietnam, Turkey, Morocco, and Indonesia have steadily climbed the rankings over the past decade. China entered the top 10 for the first time in 2025 and retained the 10th position in 2026.