WIPO is bringing innovation data center stage at this year's Assemblies — with a high-level side event and the debut of a tool that puts global innovation intelligence at the fingertips of every policymaker.
The Event: From Global Data to National Action
On Friday, July 10, WIPO will host Innovation Capabilities Outlook 2026: From Global Data to National Action at Room A, WIPO AB Building, Geneva. The event is hybrid — delegates can attend in person, and the session is open to anyone wishing to join online.
The morning kicks off with a networking breakfast and live demonstration of the new Innovation Capabilities Navigator (8:30–9:00) — a hands-on opportunity for delegates to explore what the tool can do for their economies.
Opening remarks will be delivered by:
- Marco M. Alemán, Assistant Director General, IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector, WIPO
- Gustavo Gallón Giraldo, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations in Geneva
A country study on Colombia (9:00–9:20) will then show the Innovation Capabilties Outlook (ICO) framework in action, presented by a representative of Colombia's National Planning Department.
The event closes with an expert panel on big data and strategic decision-making (9:20–9:50), moderated by Ambassador Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota of Brazil, with panelists:
- Julie Carlson, Director of Economic Strategy, Qualcomm
- Muhammed Yildirim, Academic Research Director, Harvard Growth Lab
- Carsten Fink, Chief Economist, WIPO
The Tool: Meet the Innovation Capabilities Navigator
The Innovation Capabilities Navigator (ICO) is WIPO's new interactive dashboard. It will be publicly released on July 10, so anyone interested can explore it from day one.
Built on the ICO 2026 dataset, developed with Harvard's Growth Lab, the Navigator covers 193 economies and maps over 2,500 innovation capabilities across science, technology, entrepreneurship, and production.
Select any economy and instantly access:
- Its current innovation strengths and complexity profile
- How it compares regionally and globally
- Its highest-potential pathways for growth and diversification
Whether you are a national planner, a policymaker, or a researcher, the Navigator turns complex global data into clear, actionable insights.
Explore the Innovation Capabilities Navigator — available July 10: wipo.int/innovation-capabilities