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Tehran Ranks 65th in Global Innovation Index 2026
Confirmed
In Short: Tehran was ranked 65th in the Global Innovation Index (GII) released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
According to the Global Innovation Index (GII) released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Tehran has been ranked as the world’s 65th-largest science and technology (S&T) cluster in 2026.
The ranking reflects Tehran's position as the only cluster within Iran to be among the top 100 innovation clusters globally.
The Global Innovation Index, first published in 2007, is considered the world’s leading reference for measuring innovation.
Tehran’s ranking is based on its 405 PCT applications, 58,732 scientific publications, and 107 venture capital deals, contributing to its 65th place in terms of size and 88th place in terms of innovation intensity.
The Islamic Republic of Iran was also ranked 11th among Islamic countries in terms of technology and innovation, according to the Global Innovation Index of WIPO.
The achievement is attributed to the strengthening of innovation infrastructure and the development of interactions among different sectors operating in the knowledge-based economy.
The Global Innovation Index identifies and ranks the world’s top 100 innovation clusters each year, with the top 100 predominantly located in three regions: Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Northern America.
The ranking system is based on four stages of the innovation cycle within the parameters of global technology trends, including science and innovation investments, technological progress, technology adoption, and socioeconomic impact.
Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou, Tokyo-Yokohama, San Jose-San Francisco, Seoul, and Beijing are the world’s five biggest “GII Innovation Clusters,” according to the report.
The report also highlights that San Jose-San Francisco was ranked first by innovation intensity, while Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou topped the index for innovation intensity per capita.
The Global Innovation Index’s ranking of Tehran as the 65th-largest innovation cluster underscores the city’s progress in fostering a knowledge-based economy and its efforts to enhance its innovation ecosystem.
According to Iran Innovation Zone, the capacities of Pardis Technology Parks have contributed to Iran’s startup ecosystem ranking 95th globally.
What this adds
The Global Innovation Index's ranking system is based on four stages of the innovation cycle, which includes science and innovation investments, technological progress, technology adoption, and socioeconomic impact.
The report highlights the importance of innovation clusters in fostering a knowledge-based economy and enhancing the global innovation ecosystem.
The ranking of Tehran as the 65th-largest innovation cluster reflects the city's progress in fostering a knowledge-based economy and its efforts to enhance its innovation ecosystem.
What's confirmed
- Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou, Tokyo-Yokohama, San Jose-San Francisco, Seoul and Beijing are the world’s five biggest “GII Innovation Clusters,” or concentrations of innovative activity identified by WIPO through the analysis of international patent filings, scientific publications and venture capital deals.
What's still developing
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WAIPO) is one of the most prestigious technology and innovation systems on the international stage, he said, adding that advancing and developing international intellectual property to nurturing the creativity and innovation in the world is the main goal of this organization.
- These innovation clusters often extend across multiple municipalities or subnational regions and, in some cases, span two or more countries.
- The India Electric Mobility Index (IEMI) 2025 ranks all 36 states and union territories on how well they are building an ecosystem for electric transport from policy to charging points to innovation.
- The index is built around three big themes: how fast transport is getting electrified, how ready the charging infrastructure is, and how strong the research and innovation scene looks in each region.
- Limited charging infrastructure, scattered settlements in some regions, and a still-developing innovation ecosystem are holding back faster progress in many states.
- Delhi’s overall lead comes from its exceptional performance in the third theme: EV research and innovation.