Innovation Ecosystem

Plug and Play Selects 140 Startups for Fall 2026 Batches

Sunnyvale, Calif. – September 29, 2026 -- Plug and Play has selected 140 startups from 20 countries for its Silicon Valley Fall 2026 batches, with 55% of participants based outside the United States. The startups will pitch investors and corporate partners at the Silicon Valley Summit, scheduled for Nov. 3-5, 2026.

South Korea supplies nearly a third of the international cohort

South Korea accounts for approximately 30% of companies in the batches, the largest group outside the U.S. Additional startups join from markets across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America, spanning 13 programs including Agtech, Fintech, Insurtech, Health & Longevity, and Travel & Hospitality.

MassChallenge Secures Renewed Grant, Names Dallas Second U.S. HQ

Dallas – – September 29, 2026 -- MassChallenge, ranked the No. 2 accelerator in the U.S. by TIME and Statista, has named Dallas its second U.S. headquarters, backed by a renewed two-year grant from Lyda Hill Philanthropies. The investment extends a five-year partnership at Pegasus Park and will fund two ten-week accelerator tracks in Health & Life Sciences and Security & Resiliency, plus Founder Access Clinics connecting early-stage founders with academic, clinical and corporate stakeholders.

Texas applications to MassChallenge grew more than fivefold since 2022

Texas-based applications to MassChallenge's national programs have risen over five times since 2022, while annual innovation-event attendance approaches 1,000. The grant will also support INNOVATE '26, MassChallenge's flagship Dallas convening scheduled for November 17 at Pegasus Park.

Shanghai Forum Unveils Global Innovation Alliance, Names South Africa Honor Country

Shanghai – September 19, 2026 -- The 2026 Pujiang Innovation Forum, held in Shanghai from September 11 to 14, drew scientists, policymakers and industry practitioners from more than 50 countries and regions plus over 20 international organizations, producing a series of concrete cross-border initiatives in science and technology governance.

Shanghai and UNESCO launch a Global Innovative Cities Alliance to pool urban innovation strategy

The alliance is designed as a platform to coordinate cross-city collaborative innovation and support an open, sustainable global sci-tech ecosystem. The forum also released the 2025 World-Class Sci-Tech Journal Directory, an evaluation framework intended to give emerging-economy and newly launched academic journals a fairer footing in global assessment standards.