The Innovator, 15 janvier 2026.
For decades, we’ve invested billions in physical and digital infrastructure -roads, grids, data centers.
A new report from The Innovator, developed with the World Economic Forum and the McKinsey Health Institute, makes a bold claim:
the most critical infrastructure of the 21st century is the human brain.
As we shift from an industrial economy to a Brain Economy, competitive advantage will no longer come from physical output or even technology alone, but from the Brain Capital inside organizations.
💡 What is Brain Capital?
It’s the combination of two essential assets:
▪️ Brain health: Optimal cognitive, emotional, and social functioning
▪️ Brain skills: the ability to adapt, create, and solve complex problems in an AI-driven world.
📈 Why should business leaders care?
▪️ The economic prize: investing in brain health and skills could generate 6.2 trillion USD in annual global GDP.
▪️ The skills gap: 59% of the global workforce will need upskilling by 2030.
▪️ The burden: brain health conditions (mental health, neurology, etc.) currently account for 24% of the global disease burden.
🚀 The bottom line for leaders:
You cannot turbocharge your business with AI without investing in the human brains that steer it.
Organizations that treat brain health as a core talent and innovation strategy—rather than just a “perk”—will be the ones to lead the next era of growth.
How businesses can lead:
✅ Safeguard health: move beyond basic wellness to proactive support for cognitive longevity.
✅ Foster lifespan learning: intentional upskilling shouldn’t stop at age 40; it’s a lifelong requirement.
✅ Invest at scale: integrate “Brain Capital” into your ESG frameworks and talent pipelines.
🧭 The future belongs to organizations that cultivate minds, not just machines.
The next era of growth won’t be defined by the fastest algorithms, but by the most resilient, innovative, and healthy people.
❓ How does your organization treat Brain Capital?