2026 R&D Trends Forecast

Results from the Innovation Research Interchange’s Annual Survey

Data from this year’s survey show optimism for 2026 and a positive view for future years, with substantial increases forecasted for digitization and new business initiatives.

Since 1984, the Innovation Research Interchange (IRI) has surveyed R&D and innovation leaders about their actual activity and R&D budgets for the past year and their expectations and projections for R&D investment levels, activities, budgets, and other important factors for the year ahead. The survey also asks about the geographical dispersion of R&D facilities, innovation leaders’ top concerns and views about macro trends, and the factors contributing to variance between actual and projected spending levels for both the preceding and upcoming year. The result is an analysis that highlights what matters most to innovation professionals. The primary goal of the survey is to map expectations regarding spending levels for the coming year. Recent historical data give context to this annualized snapshot and the forces driving those expectations. The 2026 IRI survey shows cautious optimism in R&D investment despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties. Nearly half of respondents anticipate increased budgets for 2026, with strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI), data management, and new business development. However, respondents were pessimistic about the overall economy, with over half expecting a recession and many expressing concerns about political uncertainty and tariffs.

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