Emerging Technology Scouting

10 Breakthrough Technologies That Could Redefine Life by 2050 A Glimpse Into Tomorrow’s World BBC Science Focus highlights 10 technologies that could transform how we live, heal, build, and explore. These innovations—ranging from molecular medicine to space cleanup—are on the cusp of shifting from lab experiments to everyday reality. While the timeline stretches toward 2050, early versions of many are already in development. Emerging Innovations to Watch 1. Nano-Medics • Operate at the scale of billionths of a meter. • Could deliver drugs directly to diseased cells or repair damaged tissues. • May revolutionize how we treat cancer and other complex conditions. 2. Digital Twins • Detailed digital replicas of physical objects or systems. • Used in industries, smart cities, and healthcare to simulate outcomes and plan responses. • Could allow doctors to model organs or engineers to test designs in real time. 3. Space Janitors • Robotic systems designed to collect dangerous space debris. • Prevent collisions and keep Earth’s orbit safe for satellites and future missions. • Critical for sustaining space infrastructure and exploration. 4. Self-Healing Infrastructure • Materials that autonomously repair cracks or wear, like bacteria-based concrete or reactive polymers. • Could reduce maintenance costs and extend lifespans of roads, bridges, and buildings. 5. Anti-Ageing Science • Research into slowing or reversing aging at the cellular level using gene editing and metabolic tweaks. • Aims to extend healthspan rather than just lifespan. • Raises complex questions about access and ethics. 6. Artificial Photosynthesis • Mimics plants to convert sunlight, water, and CO₂ into clean energy. • Could produce carbon-neutral fuels at scale. • Promising for both climate change and global energy demands. 7. Wireless Electricity • Systems that transmit power without cables using resonance or lasers. • Could one day charge devices and vehicles through the air. • A step toward fully connected, clutter-free environments. 8. Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) • Allow users to control devices using brain signals. • Already being tested for restoring mobility or speech in paralyzed individuals. • Could reshape how we interact with technology. 9. Smart Dust • Tiny sensors that gather environmental data wirelessly. • Applications in agriculture, logistics, defense, and health. • Raises concerns about surveillance and privacy. 10. Ocean Energy Harvesters • Use wave and tidal motion to generate electricity. • Offers consistent, renewable energy from marine sources. Why It Matters These inventions could solve urgent global problems—from energy shortages and environmental degradation to disease and aging. They also present challenges, including ethical dilemmas, privacy risks, and unequal access. If developed responsibly, these technologies could create a healthier, more sustainable, and more connected world by mid-century.

Impact Radar for Environmental Sustainability 🌎 The Emerging Tech Impact Radar for Environmental Sustainability identifies 29 emerging technologies and trends that are shaping the future of sustainable business practices. As environmental concerns become more central to business strategy, these innovations are critical for meeting growing expectations around sustainability while driving business resilience. Energy-related technologies are a key focus, with advancements in areas such as energy harvesting, microgrids, and battery storage supporting the global shift to renewable energy and improved efficiency. These technologies are essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy resilience. Sustainable business practices are being transformed by innovations like cloud sustainability, environmental sensors, and sustainable software. These technologies enable businesses to operate more efficiently, reduce waste, and embed sustainability into their core operations. The radar also highlights technologies addressing climate challenges, such as carbon capture and climate risk analytics. These tools are vital for reducing emissions and managing the risks associated with climate change, helping businesses meet ambitious net-zero targets. The shift towards a circular economy is supported by technologies like life cycle assessments and materials informatics, which promote resource efficiency and waste reduction. These innovations are driving the transition from linear production models to more sustainable, regenerative practices. In agriculture and biodiversity, emerging technologies such as drone-based monitoring and blockchain for traceability are enhancing resource management and sustainable sourcing. These innovations are critical for preserving ecosystems and ensuring transparency in supply chains. Understanding the emerging technologies outlined in the Emerging Tech Impact Radar is crucial for businesses aiming to align with sustainability goals and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving market. However, it is important to recognize that technology alone cannot solve all sustainability challenges. Businesses must combine these tools with strategic, systemic changes in operations, governance, and stakeholder engagement to create lasting, meaningful impact. What other technologies do you think should be part of this radar? Share your thoughts in the comments. Source: On the Path to Sustainability / The Insurance Industry’s Footprint #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #tech #technology

Almost 10 years ago, Mayank and I started our entrepreneurship journey in IT. We identified that global businesses are struggling to keep up with the rapid advancements in technology due to a lack of skilled talent. With India producing 1.5 million engineers every year and the second largest number of engineers, there is an abundance of talent who just need someone’s help to match them with the right opportunities. However, for the past 3 years, the way technology is changing, the skills that are in demand today might become obsolete tomorrow. They’ll either be replaced by some other tech or automated by AI. So my only advice to techies out there is to be aware of the tech trends in the market and continue to upskill yourself with new emerging technologies that will create more jobs in the next 3 years such as - AI, ML, and automation - Forrester predicts that this emerging tech will generate 9% of new jobs in the US by 2025. Generative AI - Businesses have started using Gen AI like crazy. 2 years back we used to say “Every company will be an AI company” but now it is “Every company will be a Gen AI company” Cyber Security - More advancements in tech mean more data, and data comes with threats and responsibilities. Demand for cybersecurity experts and security engineers will increase exponentially. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) - Forrester predicts that RPA will affect 230 million jobs but at the same time, it will create new jobs such as RPA developer, analyst, and architect. Quantum Computing - I've seen a lot of big tech companies hire quantum computing engineers with high packages, especially in the banking and finance sector for managing credit risk and detecting fraud. Now with a hugely smart and skilled talent base in India, I think it will be a great opportunity for tech professionals to upskill and ready themselves for these emerging technologies in 2024 and coming years. While upskilling yourself by learning new in-demand technologies, also focus on building skills that will stay with you forever and help you adapt to the new role, new tech, and new people faster like problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, team building, team collaboration, etc. #techtrends #AI #linkedinnews #emergingtrend2024

Top 10 Emerging Technologies Of 2023 And The Impact On The World Gen AI, Metaverse, Flexible Batteries, Sustainable aviation fuel, Designer phages, Metaverse for mental health, Wearable plant sensors, Spatial omics, Flexible neural electronics,  Sustainable computing, AI-facilitated healthcare This report goes above and beyond, offering a qualitative assessment of how these cutting-edge innovations will impact people, the planet, prosperity, industry, and equity. Authored by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Frontiers and over 90 experts spanning 20 countries, it captures diverse perspectives from every corner of the world. A transformation map that illustrates, how these technologies interconnect with other global topics and first time Impact Fingerprint Radar Chart. Ever wondered about spatial omics for molecular-level understanding, engineered viruses for health augmentation, or generative AI capable of creating original content? 🧬 💼💡 As a flagship product of the Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it aligns perfectly with their mission to promote a future that benefits everyone through human-centered and equitable technological progress. Now, let's take my 5 personal highlights of the top 10 emerging technologies of 2023 and how they can impact the world: 1️⃣ Combatting the climate and nature crises: Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): An eco-friendly solution to tackle aviation emissions and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Wearable plant sensors: Harnessing the power of data to optimize crop yields, conserve resources, and improve agricultural productivity. 2️⃣ Powered by artificial intelligence: Generative AI: Going beyond written texts and images, this AI has applications in fields like drug design and space exploration! AI in healthcare: A game-changer for anticipating and preparing for health crises, improving healthcare access, and reducing treatment waiting times. 3️⃣ Emerging Technologies in Health: Metaverse for mental health: Creating virtual spaces for therapeutic treatments, mindfulness, and mental well-being. 🧠💻 Designer phages: Engineering microbiomes to enhance human, animal, and plant health, targeting microbiome-associated diseases. 🦠🌿 4️⃣ Spatial omics: Unraveling the mysteries of the human body at the molecular level, opening doors to new insights and potential breakthroughs. 🔬🧬 5️⃣ Engineering: Flexible batteries: Powering the future of flexible electronic devices, from roll-up screens to smart clothing and beyond! Flexible neural electronics: Advancing brain-machine interfaces with less invasive and more biocompatible technologies. 🧠💻 🌟These emerging technologies hold the key to transforming industries, addressing global challenges, and creating a better world for all. #AI #technology #Innovation #metaverse #marthaverse

There’s a common thread in today’s rapidly advancing tech world: the immense power and resources required to sustain it. 𝐀𝐈, 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐀𝐈, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 are at the forefront, battling for the biggest challenge of this century, 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲. As these industries expand, their hunger for electricity grows exponentially. We need to be ready. The technologies emerging today are not just reshaping industries, they’re demanding more from our power grids than ever before. The World Economic Forum and Visual Capitalist recently highlighted the 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒, and each one underscores this growing energy demand: 1. 𝐀𝐈 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲: Advancing the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. 2. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲-𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬: Enabling the secure use of large datasets. 3. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬: Enhancing the efficiency of next-gen wireless communication. 4. 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Providing enhanced connectivity from balloon-based structures. 5. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Monitoring smart grids, agriculture, and weather conditions. 6. 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝: Transforming urban development with immersive design tools. 7. 𝐄𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬: Innovating in cooling and heating systems. 8. 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧-𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐬: Developing organisms designed to capture CO₂. 9. 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬: Creating sustainable feeds from insects, algae, and single-cell proteins. 10. 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬: Advancing genome editing for transplantations. These technologies are poised to make a significant impact on society, but they will also put immense pressure on our energy resources. As we drive these innovations forward, we must also prioritize sustainable energy solutions to support this next wave of technological progress. #energy #world #top10 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gxw2_66V 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲: The views within any of my posts, or newsletters are not those of my employer or the employers of any contributing experts. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 👍 this? feel free to reshare, repost, and join the conversation.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is releasing an updated list of critical and emerging technologies (CETs) that are potentially significant to U.S. national security. The National Security Strategy notes that technology is central to today’s geopolitical competition and to the future of our national security, economy and democracy. The critical and emerging technology areas in the 2024 update are: • Advanced Computing • Advanced Engineering Materials • Advanced Gas Turbine Engine Technologies • Advanced and Networked Sensing and Signature Management • Advanced Manufacturing • Artificial Intelligence • Biotechnologies • Clean Energy Generation and Storage • Data Privacy, Data Security, and Cybersecurity Technologies • Directed Energy • Highly Automated, Autonomous, and Uncrewed Systems, and Robotics • Human-Machine Interfaces • Hypersonics • Integrated Communication and Networking Technologies • Positioning, Navigation, and Timing Technologies • Quantum Information and Enabling Technologies • Semiconductors and Microelectronics • Space Technologies and Systems https://lnkd.in/eHRqfYHY

You have money to invest. You have researched the market. But you are still wondering if you choose the right technology to put your money in.   Did you also look into the #patent filings?   Analyzing patent data, or #patentanalytics, can provide insights into who is inventing new technologies and where that is happening. But it can also tell you which technologies are just emerging.   When working on the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO Patent Landscape Report on Graphite and its Applications (https://lnkd.in/eYgSFJk2), we found so many applications for graphite (pencil leads of course, but also electric car batteries, ceramics, packaging…) that we were struggling to figure out how best to see what exactly was happening: some applications had so many patented inventions, some only a few.   Together with our partners from IPOS International, Jinquan Huang and Sun Ting and adapting their approach to take into account not only the number of patents filed but also how recently they were filed, called the Innovation Maturity Matrix, we came up with a way to categorize all the different graphite applications into four categories: emerging, hot topics, well explored areas, and areas where not much is going on.   Read more here https://lnkd.in/eF4gUV2H to find out how to spot emerging areas using patent data.   Now you have one more tool in your toolkit that can help you make the right decision. Image credit: AI generated using Microsoft Designer