WIPO China: Spotlight on WIPO’s Global Innovation Cluster Insights and IP Services: Forum on the World’s Top 100 Innovation Clusters Held in Beijing

On September 9, the WIPO Office in China and the Intellectual Property Publishing House co-hosted the forum “Insights into the World’s Top 100 Innovation Clusters and China’s Practice in WIPO’s Global Service Systems” during the 15th China Intellectual Property Annual Conference. The forum followed WIPO’s release on September 8 of the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2026 ranking of the world’s top 100 innovation clusters. The latest results showed that China had 25 clusters among the global top 100, the highest number of any economy, with Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou ranking first globally and Beijing ranking fourth.

The forum placed particular emphasis on WIPO’s research into the latest global innovation cluster landscape, its methodology and different pathways to cluster development. WIPO Chief Economist Mr. Carsten Fink provided an in-depth interpretation of the GII 2026 Innovation Clusters ranking and its key findings, and further shared observations on cluster development and policy support during the roundtable discussion. Representatives from government, research institutions and enterprises complemented these insights with policy and business perspectives on how WIPO’s innovation research, data insights and global IP services—including the PCT, Hague and Madrid Systems—can support innovation clusters and enterprises expanding internationally.

WIPO Chief Economist Mr. Carsten Fink delivered a keynote speech entitled “GII 2026 Global Innovation Clusters: The Evolving Innovation Landscape and the Development of Service Ecosystems.” He explained that WIPO’s innovation cluster ranking uses a bottom-up approach, identifying concentrations of innovation activity through the geographic locations of inventors named in PCT applications, scientific authors and venture capital deals, rather than relying on administrative boundaries. The 2026 ranking draws on data covering approximately 4.4 million inventor locations, 30.4 million scientific author addresses and 51,000 venture capital deal locations. The findings highlighted the high concentration of global innovation activity: among the world’s top 100 clusters, 32 are in East Asia, 23 in North America, 14 in Western Europe and 10 in Northern Europe; the top 15 clusters account for 48 percent of global published PCT applications, 20 percent of global scientific publications and 38 percent of global venture capital activity.

Mr. Fink noted that in 2026 WIPO further integrated venture capital into its innovation cluster methodology, with PCT international patent activity, scientific publications and venture capital forming the three core pillars of the analysis. This broadened the perspective from knowledge and technology creation toward financing and commercialization. He emphasized that there is no single model for a successful innovation cluster: some are science-driven, some are characterized by intensive patent activity, while others benefit from vibrant venture capital ecosystems. Ningde, which rose from 99th to 75th in the ranking and performed strongly in innovation intensity, illustrated a patent-driven pathway.

Mr. Fink also highlighted the characteristics of leading innovation clusters in China. Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou showed a particularly balanced performance across the three pillars, ranking second globally in PCT international patent activity, third in scientific output and sixth in venture capital, contributing to its overall first-place ranking. Beijing stood out for its scientific performance while ranking fourth in PCT activity and seventh in venture capital. These results also illustrate a broader message from WIPO’s cluster research: different clusters can develop around different strengths, and the ranking provides not only a comparative measure but also a data-driven perspective on the structure and characteristics of innovation activity in different locations.

At the forum, Mr. Liu Chao, Chairman of the Intellectual Property Publishing House, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the organizers. Mr. Huo Hongwei, Director of the Division of Multilateral Cooperation and Planning, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Science and Technology; Mr. Shang Ping, Deputy Director General of the Guangdong Intellectual Property Administration; and Mr. Li Bolun, Head of the System Platform and Process Department at Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., delivered presentations on openness and international cooperation in science and technology innovation, IP practices in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, and enterprises’ global IP strategies, respectively. Mr. Huo highlighted the importance of drawing on the data behind WIPO’s innovation cluster ranking; Mr. Shang shared experience in IP creation, protection, commercialization and overseas patent filings through the PCT System; and Mr. Li discussed Huawei’s use of the PCT System, IP management and patent licensing in support of global innovation strategies.

The roundtable discussion, entitled “From Data to Action: Pathways to Strengthen China’s Urban Innovation Clusters,” was moderated by Ms. Shen Chuan, Director of the Administration Department at the Intellectual Property Publishing House. Panelists included WIPO Chief Economist Mr. Carsten Fink; Ms. Cui Haiying, Deputy Director of the Intellectual Property Development & Research Center, CNIPA; Mr. Song Hefa, Professor at the Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Mr. Li Song, Head of the Patent Process Department at CATL; and Ms. Zheng Juanjuan, Legal Director of Xiaomi Corporation. The discussion focused on translating insights from WIPO’s innovation cluster research into policy and business action.

Mr. Fink further emphasized that science-driven, patent-driven and venture-capital-driven development can all provide viable pathways for innovation clusters, and that there is no single model applicable everywhere. For policymakers, he highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environment for innovation through sustained investment in education, public-private cooperation and engagement with stakeholders, while tailoring support to the specific needs of individual clusters. He also identified AI capabilities as an increasingly important common foundation across different types of innovation clusters.

Ms. Cui Haiying, Mr. Song Hefa, Mr. Li Song and Ms. Zheng Juanjuan also shared perspectives and experience on, respectively, the role of IP finance in supporting the commercialization of innovation; differentiated development pathways for innovation clusters; the use of the PCT System in global enterprise IP management; and the application of WIPO’s PCT, Hague and Madrid Systems in enterprises’ international strategies.

During the interactive exchange, audience members engaged the panelists on topics including the development of innovation clusters in central and western China, venture capital indicators, regional IP development and cluster evaluation methodologies.

By providing an in-depth interpretation of the GII 2026 Innovation Clusters ranking and methodology, the forum connected WIPO’s data-driven global innovation research with policy and business practice, while illustrating how WIPO’s global IP services, including the PCT, Hague and Madrid Systems, can support innovators in pursuing international strategies. Through the forum, the WIPO Office in China further connected WIPO’s global expertise with policymakers, researchers and enterprises in China, helping WIPO’s innovation research, data tools and global IP services better support innovation clusters and innovators seeking to participate in global markets.