The 311 Innovation Cities Index

The 311 Innovation Cities Index ranks 3,921 cities by the R&D labs, startups, investors, largest companies and unicorns they host, drawn from the 311 Institute directories.

Compiled by Matthew Griffin and the 311 Institute from open data. Last updated 7 October 2026.

3,921innovation cities
177countries
2,903top score

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Glowing areas are innovation regions where leading cities cluster. Select one, or a city, to see itNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificMiddle EastAfricaSouth America

The world's leading innovation regions

Where innovation cities cluster within about 120 kilometres of each other, such as Silicon Valley or the Greater Bay Area.

Top 12 of 28 ecosystems shown

The 50 most innovative cities

Ranked by the 311 innovation score.

#	City	Score	R&D labs	Startups	Investors	Titans	Unicorns
1	New YorkUnited States	2903	26	446	1099	114	1
2	San FranciscoUnited States	1153	17	364	342	34	4
3	LondonUnited Kingdom	859	68	99	252	69	10
4	BeijingChina	654	332	2	16	144	–
5	ChicagoUnited States	527	5	76	185	38	–
6	BostonUnited States	514	14	94	186	17	–
7	DenverUnited States	498	3	49	205	18	–
8	ParisFrance	480	280	31	49	33	1
9	HoustonUnited States	397	11	64	95	66	–
10	DallasUnited States	377	6	31	137	33	–
11	AustinUnited States	373	14	137	98	13	–
12	ShanghaiChina	351	113	4	14	103	–
13	Palo AltoUnited States	336	12	76	120	4	–
14	Los AngelesUnited States	330	12	62	118	10	–
15	Menlo ParkUnited States	267	8	27	112	4	–
16	MiamiUnited States	253	2	75	79	9	–
17	AtlantaUnited States	247	19	36	56	40	–
18	ShenzhenChina	244	40	2	–	101	–
19	TorontoCanada	206	34	18	58	19	–
20	WashingtonUnited States	203	66	29	47	7	–
21	SeattleUnited States	200	21	89	33	12	–
22	MoscowRussia	199	162	5	4	12	–
23	CambridgeUnited States	177	22	71	34	8	–
24	GreenwichUnited States	151	–	3	69	5	–
25	CharlotteUnited States	126	–	28	26	23	–
26	GuangzhouChina	125	58	1	1	32	–
27	StockholmSweden	122	25	12	38	2	1
28	HangzhouChina	120	33	1	–	43	–
29	StamfordUnited States	120	–	6	46	11	–
30	TokyoJapan	119	85	4	11	4	–
31	San DiegoUnited States	118	14	46	11	18	–
32	NashvilleUnited States	116	3	25	37	7	–
33	BerlinGermany	116	65	19	13	3	–
34	Tel AvivIsrael	115	6	12	40	6	1
35	AmsterdamNetherlands	111	28	11	18	18	–
36	NanjingChina	110	57	1	–	26	–
37	BrooklynUnited States	109	–	77	14	2	–
38	MunichGermany	106	45	8	18	6	1
39	ArlingtonUnited States	103	21	18	19	13	–
40	Santa MonicaUnited States	101	3	18	36	4	–
41	São PauloBrazil	96	25	1	33	2	–
42	MadridSpain	96	66	8	9	2	–
43	BoulderUnited States	95	21	32	21	–	–
44	PhiladelphiaUnited States	92	11	15	24	9	–
45	CincinnatiUnited States	91	8	25	20	9	–
46	BethesdaUnited States	91	31	10	18	7	–
47	KyivUkraine	91	81	6	1	1	–
48	DublinIreland	89	21	4	13	19	–
49	San MateoUnited States	86	1	9	34	4	–
50	MinneapolisUnited States	86	3	19	21	11	–

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About the directory

What is the 311 Innovation Cities Index?

The 311 Innovation Cities Index ranks the world's cities by the innovation they host: R&D labs, startups, investors, the world's largest companies and unicorns, drawn from the 311 Institute's directories.

How is the innovation score calculated?

Each R&D lab and startup scores 1 point, each investor and each 311 Titan scores 2 points, and each unicorn scores 5 points. The score grows as the directories grow.

Which city is the most innovative?

New York tops the 311 Innovation Cities Index.

Why are Menlo Park and Palo Alto listed separately from San Francisco?

Cities are scored individually. The innovation regions section groups neighbouring cities, such as those in Silicon Valley, so whole regions can be compared.

How can a city improve its ranking?

By attracting and growing R&D labs, startups, investors and large companies. The 311 Institute advises city leaders on how to do this.

© 311 Institute 2015–2026. This directory, its rankings and analysis are the proprietary work of the 311 Institute and are protected by copyright and database rights. Copying, scraping, extracting or republishing any substantial part without written permission is prohibited. Licensing enquiries: contact us.

How the 311 Innovation Cities Index is built

What a city hostsEvery R&D lab, startup, investor, 311 Titan and unicorn headquartered in the city, drawn from the 311 Institute directories.

A transparent scoreLabs and startups score 1 point, investors and Titans 2 points, and unicorns 5 points.

Cities and regionsEach city is scored on its own, and neighbouring cities are grouped into innovation regions so whole areas can be compared.

Always growingScores rise as the directories grow, so every new lab, startup or deal is reflected in the next update.

Checked 3 October 2026. Explore the underlying directories: R&D labs, startups, investors and Titans.