Cairo came first in the Arab world and 86th globally
Sept 23 (TV BRICS/GNA) – Cairo has made a notable mark on the global innovation map, ranking 86th on the list of the world’s top 100 innovation hubs for 2026, according to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) ranking. It is the only hub from the African continent on the list and the top-ranked in the Arab world.
Sada El-Balad, a partner of TV BRICS, reported on a study issued by the Information and Decision Support Centre of the Council of Ministers, which noted that this progress reflects the growing innovation ecosystem in Cairo, which combines scientific research, inventions and technological investment.
According to the report, Cairo’s ranking is based on the strength of its scientific and research output, particularly in the fields of medical technology and chemistry, as well as venture capital activity supporting start-ups.
The WIPO ranking is based on indicators including the locations of inventors in international patent applications, authors of scientific research papers, and the locations of companies receiving investment funding.
Globally, China accounts for 25 clusters among the world’s top 100, whilst India accounts for four. In the Arab world, Cairo ranked first and 86th globally, while Riyadh entered the list of the top 100 innovation clusters for the first time, ranking 92nd globally.
The ranking also highlighted the expansion of innovation hubs beyond traditional advanced economies, with clusters from middle-income countries such as Brazil, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Mexico, and Türkiye making the list.
WIPO emphasised that these hubs represent a key component of national innovation ecosystems, by strengthening links between universities, researchers, inventors, businesses and venture capital, and by transforming knowledge into economic and social value.
GNA/TV BRICS