WIPO 2026 Global Awards Winners: Eleven Companies Recognized for Using IP to Build and Scale Their Businesses

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) today announced the 11 winners of the WIPO Global Award 2026, celebrating companies that demonstrated excellence in using intellectual property (IP) to bring to market products including drugs to regenerate lung tissue, semiconductors that cut energy loss, AI-guided crop spraying devices and helmet sensors promoting athletes’ brain health.

The WIPO Global Awards reward excellent small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, which make up over 90 percent of all businesses in the world and around 50 percent of jobs, and highlights how IP improves lives and drives enterprise and job growth.

An international jury of experts selected winners from a pool of 1,300 applications representing 126 countries, Jurors evaluated firms’ business case, IP strategy, internal IP culture and contribution to addressing societal challenges.

This year’s winners represent a diverse range of sectors, from health care to agriculture to drone technology (see below for a list of winners).

WIPO Director General Daren Tang presented the awards to winners’ representatives at a ceremony held during the WIPO Assemblies of Member States in Geneva, Switzerland.

SMEs make up the majority of companies in every country, driving growth, creating employment and often driving the most disruptive innovation. Yet most remain unaware about the power of IP as a business tool. These Awards shine a spotlight on those exemplary SMEs that are not just registering and protecting their IP, but also using it strategically for business growth. We hope that they will inspire other entrepreneurs, and encourage policymakers to put in place programs and policies to help IP be part of every SMEs toolkit for success.

Winners receive six months of 1:1 mentoring on IP strategy, market access and fundraising, and join the Global Awards Alumni Community, through which they connect with investors, accelerators, corporates, and service providers.