WIPO has announced the 33 finalists for the 2026 edition of the Global Awards, which recognize small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups that combine innovation and creativity with strong IP strategies to grow their business.
Finalists were selected from 1,300 applications submitted by companies from 126 countries, and are presented across five established sectors: Environment, Health, ICT, Food & Agriculture, and Creative Industries; plus a new Sports category introduced to mark the 2026 World IP Day theme, "IP and Sports". Selection was based on the strength of the business case, the IP strategy, and the potential for impact toward a better society.
All finalists join the Global Awards Alumni Community, gaining access to curated ecosystem opportunities through multiple channels: WIPO facilitates direct matchmaking between finalists and a vetted network of investors, accelerators, and service providers; hosts regular online expert talks on strategic IP and business topics; and provides personalized introductions to exclusive opportunities and events throughout the year.
Winners will be selected by an international jury of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders spanning creative industries, agri-biotech, renewable energy, venture capital, and financial markets, and announced during a live ceremony on Friday, July 10, held during the WIPO Assemblies in Geneva.
Winners receive a dedicated IP and business workshop, a six-month individual mentoring package, and recognition at the awards ceremony in Geneva in front of delegates from 194 countries.
This year's finalists are:
Agriculture and Food
SMEs
- AgZen (United States of America): AI-optimized crop spraying
- Palmear (United Arab Emirates): Acoustic pest detection in trees
- Savanna Circuit Technologies (Kenya): Solar cold chain for farmers
Startups
- Biome Technologies (India): Portable soil health diagnostics
- INFIRA (Argentina): Annual crops made perennials
- Plantvoice (Italy): Biosensors inserted in plants to monitor crop health
Creative Industries
SMEs
- Jade ND (Brazil): Gamified learning platform for neurodivergent children
- Melodie Music (Australia): AI music licensing, 50% back to composers
- MONSTA Studios (Malaysia): Original superhero animation franchises
Startups
- AUROARTS (India): Wild botanicals preserved and crafted into durable art pieces
- DABIDA (Republic of Korea): Handwriting-based AI tutoring system
- Manetho (Egypt): AI hieroglyphic translator, AR museums
Environment
SMEs
- Botree (China): Lithium battery recycling
- ROC Water Technologies (South Africa): Mining wastewater treatment
- SPACECOOL (Japan): Zero-energy cooling for datacenters and buildings
Startups
- FLOSFIA (Japan): Energy-saving chips for greener electronics
- Phabuilder (China): Low-cost microbial bioplastics
- Saltech Design Labs (India): Plastic waste recycled into construction materials
Health
SMEs
- ArteryFlow (China): AI cardiovascular diagnostics platform
- Craif (Japan): Urine-based multi-cancer detection
- Raynovent (China): Anti-influenza drug beating drug-resistant strains
Startups
- PHIOGEN (United States of America): Therapy for recurring bladder infections (UTI)
- Regend Therapeutics (China): Lung tissue regeneration
- UNTECH (Argentina): Treatment for chronic wounds
ICT
SMEs
- ICTK (Republic of Korea): Keyless hardware security chips
- Rokid (China): AI glasses with augmented reality display
- Whale Seeker (Canada): AI marine mammal detection for industrial compliance
Startups
- Drovid (Chile): Drones detecting human-caused forest fires early
- MIMOPT (France): Digital twins for optical networks
- OrionX (Botswana): Africa's sovereign AI infrastructure
Sports – Special Award
- Bearmind (Switzerland): Helmet sensors tracking brain health in contact sports
- Guardian Sports (United States of America): Soft-shell reducing head impact
- Mirai Tech (Kazakhstan): Battery-free insoles monitoring movement and injury risk
This year's competition reached a new milestone, with a 70% increase in applications compared to 2025. China and India retained the top two positions, while the United States of America rose to third place. Brazil, Malaysia, Thailand, and Argentina are new entrants in the top ten compared to 2025. 32% of applicants were woman-led companies, with the absolute number of applications from women entrepreneurs doubling year-on-year. Youth-led enterprises represented 28% of all applicants.