WIPO’s Global Innovation Index 2026, published on 29 September 2026, again places Switzerland, Sweden, the United States, the Republic of Korea and Singapore at the top. For Latin America and Africa the signals are more specific: Chile (51st) leads Latin America, Brazil (53rd) remains the region’s only economy innovating above its level of development, and South Africa (63rd) does so for a ninth consecutive year. This note reads the global innovation index 2026 for companies that protect or license IP in these markets.
Key takeaways
- The GII 2026 ranks 139 economies on 79 indicators, including trademarks, industrial designs and payments for the use of IP.
- Latin America is led by Chile (51st), Brazil (53rd), Mexico (65th), Uruguay (66th) and Costa Rica (70th).
- Mauritius (50th) leads Sub-Saharan Africa; Morocco reaches its best rank ever (54th), led by industrial designs (5th) and trademarks (16th).
- Deep science startups grew 71% in Latin America and the Caribbean and 65% in Sub-Saharan Africa since 2020.
What does the Global Innovation Index 2026 measure?
According to the WIPO press release PR/2026/959, the GII averages an input sub-index (institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market and business sophistication) and an output sub-index (knowledge and technology outputs, creative outputs). Several indicators are IP filings or flows: trademarks, industrial designs, utility models, PCT applications and payments for the use of IP. A rising score in those indicators usually means more filings, and more potential conflicts, in that market.
The top ten in 2026 are Switzerland, Sweden, the US, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark and China. Twenty-one economies perform above expectations for their level of development; Sub-Saharan Africa hosts seven of them.
Latin America: Chile leads, Brazil overperforms
The GII 2026 results chapter gives the regional picture:
| Economy | GII 2026 rank | What the report highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Chile | 51 | Regional leader; 41st in inputs but 70th in outputs |
| Brazil | 53 | Only overperformer in the region, for a sixth year; trademarks 8th, IP payments 13th, utility models 24th |
| Mexico | 65 | Manufacturing and export capabilities |
| Uruguay | 66 | Rises two places; institutions 29th |
| Costa Rica | 70 | Enters the top 70; service-oriented ecosystem |
| Argentina | 75 | Gains two places; trademarks 25th; outputs ahead of inputs |
The report’s diagnosis is that the region’s assets are concentrated in a few economies and are not yet connected strongly enough to turn research into technology, exports and brands. It notes limited university–industry collaboration, while Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico lead late-stage venture capital. São Paulo remains the region’s top cluster, at 49th.
Africa: Mauritius, Morocco and South Africa
Mauritius leads Sub-Saharan Africa at 50th, followed by South Africa (63rd), Botswana (82nd) and Senegal (90th); Kenya rises five places to 97th, helped by utility models (8th). In North Africa, Morocco reaches 54th, with Tunisia (71st) and Egypt (83rd) also rising. The press release adds that African startups raised about USD 3.2 billion in 2025, up 40% year on year.
For IP owners, Morocco’s profile stands out: 5th in industrial designs, 16th in trademarks and 8th in intangible asset intensity. The report reads this as firms adding design, branding and product differentiation to production capacity.
How should you read the rankings for IP strategy?
- Where to protect early. Markets with high or rising trademark and design activity, such as Brazil, Morocco and Argentina, tend to have more crowded registers. Filing before entry reduces the risk of finding your name taken.
- Where to license. Brazil’s rank in IP payments (13th) shows an economy that already pays for foreign technology and brands; licences need to be recorded to have effect against third parties.
- Where innovation comes from. Growth in deep science startups in Latin America and Africa means more university spinouts and patent applications, and more partners whose IP ownership needs checking before a deal.
- What the index does not tell you. It measures ecosystems, not how quickly offices examine applications or how courts enforce rights. That still needs country-by-country advice.
What this means for your business
- Review your filings in the markets that are climbing, especially Brazil, Morocco, Mexico and Kenya, against your commercial plans.
- Before licensing into Latin America or Africa, check registration, ownership and recordal requirements in each country.
- When partnering with startups or universities, run IP due diligence on who owns what and where it is protected.
Our team for global IP strategy across Latin America and Africa can turn those signals into a filing and licensing plan.
When to bring in an adviser
- Entering a fast-growing market late. Rising trademark activity means more prior rights; clearance costs less than a dispute.
- Licensing without recordal. In Brazil (Law 9.279, Art. 140) and the Andean Community (Decision 486, Art. 162), unrecorded licences have no effect against third parties.
- Partnering without checking title. Spinouts and startups often hold IP in founders’ names or under university rules.
- Different advisers per country, leading to inconsistent owners, specifications and deadlines.
Frequently asked questions
Which Latin American country ranks highest in the GII 2026?
Chile, at 51st, followed by Brazil (53rd), Mexico (65th), Uruguay (66th) and Costa Rica (70th). Brazil is the only economy in the region that performs above expectations for its level of development, a status it has held for six consecutive years, according to WIPO’s GII 2026.
How do African economies perform in the GII 2026?
Mauritius leads Sub-Saharan Africa at 50th, with South Africa 63rd and overperforming for a ninth consecutive year. Morocco reaches its best rank at 54th, ahead of Tunisia (71st) and Egypt (83rd). Kenya climbs five places to 97th. Sub-Saharan Africa has seven of the 21 overperforming economies.
Can IP Global Guard help us protect and license IP in these markets?
Yes. We plan filings, licences and due diligence across Europe, Latin America and Africa, acting before EUIPO, OEPM and WIPO systems directly where our professionals are entitled and otherwise through qualified representatives, and coordinating local correspondents in each national office, from a single point of contact.
How IP Global Guard can help
Rankings show where innovation is moving; protection has to follow it country by country. IP Global Guard, the IP services line of META Channel Corporation Limited, coordinates trademarks, patents, designs and licensing across more than 25 jurisdictions in Europe, Latin America and Africa, with one strategy and one billing relationship.
Tell us which markets you are entering or licensing into, and what you need to protect. We will map the filings and recordals and coordinate them from a single point of contact. Contact our team to plan your next markets.
This article is general information, not legal advice, and reflects the GII 2026 as published on 29 September 2026.
