WIPO 2026 Global Awards Winners: Eleven Companies Recognized for Using IP to Build and Scale Their Businesses
12-Jul-2026
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Source : The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
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Visits : 62
GENEVA - The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) 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, according to the official website of WIPO.
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,” WIPO Director General Daren Tang said.
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.
The 2026 winners are:
Agriculture & Food
SME: AgZen (United States) -- AI-optimized crop spraying
Startup: Infira (Argentina) -- Annual crops made perennials
Environment
SME: Botree (China) -- Lithium battery recycling
Startup: FLOSFIA (Japan) -- Energy-saving semiconductors for greener electronics
Health
SME: ArteryFlow (China) -- AI cardiovascular diagnostics platform
Startup: Regend Therapeutics (China) -- Lung tissue regeneration
Creative Industries
SME: Jade ND (Brazil) -- Game-based learning platform for neurodivergent children
Startup: DABIDA (Republic of Korea) -- Handwriting-based AI tutoring system
ICT
SME: ICTK (Republic of Korea) -- Keyless hardware security chips
Startup: Drovid (Chile) -- Drones detecting human-caused forest fires early
Sports -- Special Award
Bearmind (Switzerland) -- Helmet sensors tracking brain health in contact sports
Special Mentions
Best Youth Entrepreneur 2026 -- Vishnu Jayaprakash, CEO of AgZen (United States)
Support for this recognition is provided by the ITC Ye! Community, a global platform powered by the International Trade Centre that connects young entrepreneurs with peers, mentors, and business opportunities.
Best Woman Entrepreneur 2026 -- Renata Reinheimer, CEO of Infira (Argentina)
Support for this recognition is provided by ITC SheTrades, an initiative of the International Trade Centre that works to create the conditions for women entrepreneurs to grow and trade internationally.