Innovation has never been more vital – and more complex. The International Innovation Barometer 2026 (IIB 2026), now in its 7th annual edition, provides an unparalleled look at how organisations across 17 countries and 6 sectors are adapting, investing, and collaborating to stay competitive in a rapidly changing world.
From boardrooms to R&D labs, innovation is shifting from being a growth driver to a strategic necessity for resilience, competitiveness, and security. This year’s findings reveal how companies are balancing cost pressures with creativity, embracing artificial intelligence as a top priority, and rethinking their innovation strategies in light of national security risks.
What’s inside the IIB 2026 report?
Based on insights from 850 CEOs, CFOs, CTOs, heads of R&D, and innovation leaders, this edition explores three critical themes shaping the global innovation landscape:
- Innovation endures: Despite economic turbulence, 96% of companies now have dedicated innovation teams, with AI surpassing all other priorities.
- Optimising innovation: Businesses are seeking every advantage, whether through collaboration, international direct funding programmes, or new offshoring strategies to optimise R&D outcomes.
- National security & innovation: 93% of firms now factoring security risks into strategy. Thus, innovation is increasingly driven by cybersecurity, dual-use technologies, and public–private partnerships.
Why download the Barometer?
- Benchmark your organisation against global leaders.
- Uncover funding trends, from self-financing to the rise of equity and grants.
- Learn how companies are tackling the talent shortage, now the number one barrier to innovation.
- Gain foresight into the future of AI, cybersecurity, and dual-use technologies as innovation priorities.
Download your free copy of the IIB 2026 today to find out more
