For the first time, TIME will publish a ranking of America's Most Innovative Companies, in partnership with Statista, a leading international provider of market and consumer data and rankings. Innovation within a company can take many forms. For this ranking, three dimensions will be considered: product innovation, process innovation, and innovation culture. To identify the most innovative companies in the U.S., comprehensive surveys will be conducted. Employees will evaluate their own employers, providing an internal assessment of innovation; experts will recommend and evaluate companies they are familiar with, contributing an external perspective; and the strength of a company’s patent portfolio will be evaluated as an objective criterion. The survey results and objective criterion will be combined into a single score.

As part of the research phase, TIME and Statista are now accepting free applications. American companies are invited to apply by October 9, 2026. Companies that register will receive a link to a short survey, which they should share with their employees.

To apply, click here. Winners will be announced on TIME.com in March 2027.