Trends in research and innovation 2026
Gain access to the latest research intelligence and discover the trends shaping the future of technology and innovation.
Research and innovation are evolving at an unprecedented pace, and understanding where they are heading is critical for making informed strategic decisions. As emerging technologies develop and technical disciplines become increasingly interconnected, organisations face growing pressure to identify opportunities, prioritise investment, and make informed strategic decisions.
The trends in research and innovation 2026 report provides a data-driven view of the global research landscape, helping researchers, strategists, policymakers, and R&D leaders understand where research momentum is building and how emerging technologies are influencing future development across a range of disciplines, including engineering, computing, physics, energy, and applied sciences.
Drawing on Inspec’s extensive bibliographic data and more than 50 years of expert, human-curated indexing, the report provides valuable research intelligence on the innovation trends shaping scientific and technological advancement.
What you'll discover
Inside the report, you'll explore:
- Which engineering, physics, and scientific research fields are experiencing strong and sustained growth, which are stabilising, and which legacy technologies are seeing declining research activity.
- The growing cross-disciplinary themes and what they reveal about future innovation.
- How AI, quantum computing, renewable energy, and other high-growth research domains are developing from theory through to practical application.
- Research trends related to UN Sustainable Development Goals and research literature outputs mapped to patenting activity.
Why it matters
Whether you're evaluating future technology trends, planning investments, developing a research strategy, or identifying potential growth areas, access to reliable research intelligence supports evidence-based decisions.
Where emerging technologies intersect with established research fields, they present opportunities for competitive advantage. Understanding research activity today provides valuable insight into future opportunities with greater confidence.
Download the Report
Gain access to the latest research intelligence and uncover the trends shaping the future of technology and innovation.
Download the trends in research and innovation 2026 report today and explore the research trends, emerging technologies, and developments shaping the next wave of innovation.
