According to the Bosch Tech Compass 2026 survey data, human capital and research capabilities serve as the primary drivers of innovation globally.
Leading the responses, 35% of participants identified qualified people and educational institutions as essential, closely followed by strong research capabilities at 34%.
Private sector dynamism also plays a major role, with 31% citing competitive companies.
Institutional and structural support feature prominently as well: government subsidies and public-private partnerships garnered 24%, while robust physical or digital infrastructure and access to capital tied at 21%.
Favourable energy prices were highlighted by 19% of respondents. Lower down the spectrum, international collaboration and national raw material resources both received 18%.
Cultural and regulatory factors rounded out the survey findings, with entrepreneurship culture at 16%, effective regulation at 15%, and cultural openness to risk or change at 14%.
Together, these results demonstrate that talent and research outpace financial or regulatory factors in fostering innovation.
