The Human Advantage Stronger Brains in the Age of AI 2026

Financing mechanisms across the brain capital R&D pipeline FIGURE 5 — Angel investing — Debt financing — Funds of funds— Growth funding — Long-term funding — Public markets — Royalty financing— Retained ear nings — Seed funding — Microinsurance models — Overseas development assistance — Solidarity levies — Tax cr edits— Gover nment budget allocation — Gover nment incentives and subsidies — Grants — Guarantees — Impact bonds— Crowdfunding — Debt swaps — Development loans — End or milestone-based prizes — Forgivable loansPublic Private – commer cial Private – philanthr opicBrain capital R&D pipeline Investment barriers1Developing new strategies and interventions; conducting basic discovery science and r esear ch High upfr ont investment cost acr oss uncertain r eturns and high r equir ements for risk capital Moving fr om r esear ch to practical implementation and (pre-)clinical testing Long payback periods befor e seeing measurable r esults Developing infrastructur e, workfor ce and knowledge to implement; integrating into service delivery and clinical practice Misaligned incentives and limited coor dination acr oss key players in the value chain Scaling up and integrating into broader systems to enable access globally Fragmented demand; lack of physical and technological infrastructur e to scale latipaC preservation or market r eturn nruter oN expectedFoundational research Translation and adaptation Adoption and implementation Scaling Potential financing mechanisms that can be deployed across the pipeline to de-risk and spur investment Market context is important in this space, given policy and social constraints, creating need for investment to be paired with market-shaping efforts Note: 1. Non-exhaustive and can apply to mor e than one part of the value chain Source: Adapted from Coalition for Mental Health Investment. (2025, September 19). Keeping investment in mind: Challenges, strategies, and solutions for financing mental health Brain health investors can look to history, where they would find that early clean energy markets encountered similar barriers. It was not until public and private actors coordinated to deploy tools such as blended finance, catalytic philanthropy, loan guarantees and public–private partnerships that markets for solar and wind matured and drew in commercial capital.106 A comparable financing approach is needed to develop and scale solutions for safeguarding brain health, fostering brain skills and studying brain capital. Flexible financing models can help bridge this gap.107 Public and philanthropic funding can support early-stage research. Blended finance can reduce risk and crowd in private capital. Outcome-based mechanisms, such as social impact bonds, can tie funding to long-term results. At the same time, innovative financing could also work within and alongside existing loan structures in low- and middle-income countries. Loan agreements with multilateral institutions, such as the IMF or World Bank, sometimes include fiscal conditions that may not yet be met in these contexts (for example, a minimum ratio for health workers per 10,000 population). Incorporating broader brain capital considerations into such agreements – for instance, through flexible spending frameworks or targeted debt restructuring – could help countries direct funds towards areas of greatest need and value. The Human Advantage: Stronger Brains in the Age of AI 19