The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has published its Global Innovation Index 2026 (GII), revealing that more than 30,000 deep science startups — science-based ventures and university spinouts — have been created since 2000, nearly ten times the 2010 figure. Together they are valued at $7.6 trillion, up 23% from 2024, and their share of all venture-backed startups reached 16% in 2025, the highest on record.
The findings draw on the new Dealroom-WIPO Deep Science Startup Tracker, described as the first global mapping of such firms. The United States leads with 12,752 deep science companies, followed by China with 3,466 and the United Kingdom with 2,133. Since 2020, however, growth has been fastest in Central and Southern Asia at 118%, driven largely by India, while Latin America and the Caribbean recorded 71% growth and Sub-Saharan Africa 65%. Among middle-income economies, Türkiye, India, Malaysia, Brazil and South Africa lead the field. According to WIPO, deep science ventures are now emerging at every income level.
The index also identifies where startups typically stall: at the transition from research to proof-of-concept, and again from pilot to commercial deployment, where Series B and C funding rounds are thinner.
On the broader rankings, no new economies joined the top 15 this year. Canada rose to 16th place, Australia to 20th and New Zealand to 24th, each regaining ground. The United Arab Emirates gained five places to enter the top 25, ranking 25th.
Twenty-one economies perform above expectations for their level of development — four more than in 2025 — with 15 of them classified as lower middle- or low-income economies. India and Viet Nam remain the longest-running overperformers, each sustaining that status for 16 consecutive years. Sub-Saharan Africa hosts seven overperformers, the largest regional total, including South Africa for a ninth consecutive year. Mozambique, Pakistan and the Republic of Moldova return to the group, Bhutan overperforms in its first year, and Brazil remains the only overperformer in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Now in its 19th edition, the GII ranks 139 economies across 79 indicators. New this year is an indicator on green-field research and development and high-tech foreign direct investment, based on announced investment projects. In WIPO's 2025–2026 survey, 78% of responding Member States — 93 of 120 — reported using the GII to improve innovation policy and data. The index is submitted to an independent statistical audit by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre.
This article is based on a primary source and has undergone editorial review prior to publication.
