In 2025, three metrics define the top 100 clusters globally. The first metric focuses on the location of inventors listed in published patent applications under the WIPO Patent Cooperation Treaty. The second metric considers the authors listed on published scientific articles. The third metric is the location of venture capital deals. These metrics reveal those areas where there is a high concentration of inventors, scientific authors, and venture capital activity.

The top 100 clusters account for roughly 70 percent of global patent filings and venture capital activity, and around half of all scientific publications. This concentration becomes even more striking at the highest tier, with the leading 10 clusters alone generating around 40 percent of patent filings, 35 percent of venture capital activity, and more than 15 percent of global scientific publications.

The Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou metropolitan area, which spans both China and Hong Kong, tops the global rankings, followed by Tokyo–Yokohama in Japan. 

Four U.S. metropolitan areas are among the world’s top 10 innovation clusters: 

1. Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou.
2. Tokyo–Yokohama.
3. San Jose–San Francisco.
4. Beijing.
5. Seoul.
6. Shanghai–Suzhou.
7. New York City.
8. London.
9. Boston–Cambridge.
10. Los Angeles.

For the third consecutive year, China leads with the most clusters—24—in the top 100. The United States follows closely behind with 22, and Germany ranks third with seven.

WIPO is the United Nations agency that serves the world’s innovators and creators, ensuring that their ideas travel safely to the market and improve lives everywhere. The agency’s services enable entrepreneurs to protect and promote their intellectual property across borders.