Public-private partnerships will define innovation in the AI era

Jul 8, 2026

This article was originally published by Time

Public-private partnerships can help diffuse more emerging technologies Image: World Economic Forum/Pascal Bi

Alois Zwinggi

President and CEO, World Economic Forum

This article is part of: Annual Meeting of the New Champions

Capital investment is concentrated in a narrow set of technologies, with non-AI fields typically underfunded, hindering their ability to scale and fulfil their potential.
Greater diffusion of emerging technologies will occur if governments, business, civil society and academia collaborate.
Worldwide, examples where government support for start-ups and infrastructure have boosted a country’s innovation; academia can cultivate the pipeline of ideas and talent while civil society can anchor trust and ethics.

The latest advances in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology have the potential to lift living standards, boost productivity, and drive more sustainable growth. Yet despite record investment, many solutions are struggling to scale beyond the lab and translate into real-world economic benefits. The full potential of innovation is not being harnessed. Public-private partnerships will be the key to unlocking this potential.

Read the whole article in Time.

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