Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster tops global ranking

The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster has topped the list of the world's leading innovation clusters in 2026, according to a release by the World Intellectual Property Organization on Saturday.

This cluster, located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, along with Tokyo-Yokohama, San Jose-San Francisco, Beijing, and Seoul, represents the world's five largest hubs of innovative activity. WIPO identified these clusters through an analysis of international patent filings, scientific publications, and venture capital deals, as detailed on its website.

In the 2026 Global Innovation Index, Beijing and Shanghai-Suzhou also rank among the top 10 innovation clusters, with Chengdu making its way into the top 20.

China, with 25 clusters, and the United States together host nearly half of the world's 100 largest innovation clusters, followed by Germany.

WIPO Director-General Daren Tang highlighted that these leading innovation clusters are crucial components of national innovation ecosystems, underscoring the importance of strong connections between research, enterprise, talent, and investment.

Tang further noted that the geographic diversity of these clusters reflects the growing ability of economies to transform innovation into tangible economic and social benefits.

The Global Innovation Index cluster initiative maps cities and regions that bring together universities, researchers, inventors, venture capital, and R&D activities. This initiative serves as a guide for policymakers and business leaders to create environments where groundbreaking ideas can thrive.