WIPO 2026 Global Innovation Index: AI Dominates VC Funding, How Deep Science Startups Reach Market

WISECODE Take

An increase in global venture capital funding does not mean fundraising is getting easier for smaller teams, as extreme funding concentration leaves non-AI startups facing cash shortages. According to the Global Innovation Index 2026 released by WIPO on September 29, 2026, global VC funding grew by 28% to USD 510 billion in 2025, yet deal counts declined for the fourth consecutive year. Furthermore, AI absorbed 77% of VC funds in the first half of 2026, highlighting that deep science startups without clear IP licensing frameworks struggle to secure capital regardless of technical merit. Mature manufacturers and non-AI ventures need not blindly chase trends; those actually affected are R&D teams that rely on academic research without clarifying IP ownership. Unclear licensing terms often derail fundraising and commercialization during proof-of-concept stages. Zhidian IP provides patent portfolio checkups to help enterprises establish clear and strategically sound IP structures before entering the market. To navigate concentrated capital markets, executives should take two actions: First, clearly define ownership and licensing terms before entering R&D collaborations with academic institutions. Second, align patent filing timelines with commercial readiness, prioritizing core technology suitable for pilot production rather than filing vanity patents. Investors focus on commercial execution and legal defensibility, not the number of lab publications.