The International Energy Agency’s State of Energy Innovation 2026 report finds that global energy innovation is accelerating, with strong growth in technologies such as batteries, power grids, and clean energy solutions, driven increasingly by concerns about energy security and industrial competitiveness.
The report highlights rising public and private investment, expanding venture capital in areas such as critical minerals and advanced energy technologies, and rapid progress in innovation indicators, including patents and start-ups. However, it also warns that funding is becoming more uncertain, with slower growth in R&D spending and declining venture capital in some clean energy sectors, raising concerns about whether innovation momentum can be sustained.
