Our 2026 Top Technology Trends Report analyzes the leading technology trends shaping global innovation in 2026, combining insights from industry thought leaders (Gartner, Forbes) with patent intelligence.
Patent data provides an objective lens into where R&D investment is concentrating, which players are building competitive positions, and how technologies are moving across development, commercialization, and patent protection.
Top Technology Trends for 2026
1. Space Connectivity
Space connectivity is reshaping global communications through direct-to-device satellite broadband. Patent filings are generally rising across non-terrestrial network protocols, satellite-enabled chipsets, RF systems, and antenna designs, reflecting strong investment by telecom, device, and infrastructure players. Based on our data on U.S. patent filings, Qualcomm leads in this “space”.
2. Agentic AI
Agentic AI enables autonomous, goal-driven systems that perceive, reason, and act beyond prompt-based models. Patent activity highlights innovation in multimedia, and enterprise and healthcare automation. Preliminary data reveal significant filings from Baidu, NVIDIA, Strongforce Innovation, and Ping An Technology.
For patent filing activity, top patent filers and assignees, as well as the top law firms representing innovators in this field, download our report.
3. AI Supercomputing Platforms
Gartner identifies this as a top technology trend for 2026. AI supercomputing platforms support large-scale model training and deployment through GPU-dense supercomputers and AI-optimized datacenters.
Patent activity is led by NVIDIA’s extensive filings in GPU architecture, memory, and interconnects, alongside contributions from Intel, Huawei, Oracle, and IBM focused on processors, accelerators, and scalable HPC and cloud systems.
4. Physical AI
Physical AI extends artificial intelligence into real-world environments, enabling robots and machines to sense, reason, and act autonomously. Gartner also identifies this as a top technology trend for 2026. Patent filings in this area show steady growth, led by NVIDIA, LG Electronics, Intel, and Strong Force Innovation Portfolios, with applications spanning industrial automation and healthcare robotics, including AI-enabled surgical systems.
5. Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI)
Brain-computer interfaces enable direct communication between the brain and external systems. The technology pushes neurotechnology across healthcare and non-clinical applications. Recent regulatory approvals underscore growing clinical maturity and commercialization potential.
Patent activity aligns with progress by companies developing implantable neural devices for speech restoration, motor control, and neuroprosthetics. Based on U.S. patent filings alone, Galvani Bioelectronics, a joint venture by GSK and Verily, currently leads in this area.
6. Confidential Computing
Confidential computing protects sensitive workloads by processing data within hardware-isolated Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), even in untrusted cloud or multi-party settings.
Patent activity is led by Intel, Microsoft, Huawei, Cisco, and Samsung.
Download the 2026 Top Technology Trends Report and get insights on:
- Patenting filing activity
- Top Applicants, Top Assignees
- Top Law firms representing innovators
- Notable patents
