Trends Identified
Rapid Urbanisation
By 2050, 66% of the global population is expected to be living in urban areas with nearly 90% of the increase concentrated in Asia and Africa. Increase of population density and activities in urban areas across the globe would significantly transform the structure of societies, distribution of resources and governance systems.
2017
Science & Technology Foresight Malaysia
Malaysia, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
Demographic change
The world population is expected to increase in the coming years with a demographic shift seen with number of seniors increasing as they have longer life expectancy and declining birth rates. The ageing population phenomenon is triggering one of the most significant social transformations
of the twenty- first century.
2017
Science & Technology Foresight Malaysia
Malaysia, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
Social Change
According to the World Bank Group, two thirds of all jobs could be susceptible to automation in developing countries in the coming decade. The role and responsibilities of people in this new operating landscape will increasingly shift to knowledge work, process control and decision making. As such, the ability to learn, unlearn, relearn and co-learn reinforced through reskilling and upskilling would be increasingly important as emerging technologies lead the way to greater automation. The democratisation of knowledge also gives rise to a society where ideas and knowledge can be easily accessed by many and no longer limited to an elite group. The digital revolution enables knowledge to be freely acquired, shared and developed thereby empowering people to make informed decisions.
2017
Science & Technology Foresight Malaysia
Malaysia, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
Climate Change
Global warming, rise of sea levels and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more severe recently. Impacts related to climate change are evident across regions and in many sectors important to society such as human health, agriculture and food security, water supply, transportation, energy, ecosystems, and others and are expected to become increasingly disruptive throughout this century and beyond.
2017
Science & Technology Foresight Malaysia
Malaysia, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
Global Risks
As we race to keep up with technological changes of unprecedented depth and speed, leveraging on new economic businesses models and conserving our environment by going towards a lower-carbon future, managing these transitions and the interconnected risks that entail will require long-term thinking, investment and international cooperation (The Global Risk 2017 Report, WEF).
2017
Science & Technology Foresight Malaysia
Malaysia, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
Green technology
2017
Science & Technology Foresight Malaysia
Malaysia, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
Neurotechnology
Convergence of emerging science, engineering and technology over the past decade has resulted in the emergence of neurotechnology, which can be defined as the manipulations of technical and computational tools to measure, analyse and re-wire the working of the nervous system in order to identify the properties of nerve cell activities, diagnose illnesses, restore and/or rescue neurological functions and even controlled by external devices. Application of neurotechnology is not limited to medical industry; it can be applied in financial market, law enforcement, marketing, education and warfare (ESET Neurotechnology Report, ASM, 2017)
2017
Science & Technology Foresight Malaysia
Malaysia, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
Nanotechnology
Application of scientific knowledge to manipulate and control matter in the nanoscale (ranges between approximately 1 and 100 nm) in order to make use of size and structure dependent properties and phenomena. Nanoscale materials have unique electromagnetic, thermal and optical characteristics which are distinct from those associated with individual atoms or molecules or with bulk materials are essential in solving many of the problems facing humanity. These materials could have new possibilities of applications by making lighter, stronger, smarter, cheaper, cleaner and more durable consumer and engineered products.
2017
Science & Technology Foresight Malaysia
Malaysia, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
Biotechnology
OECD defined Biotechnology as application of science and technology to living organisms as well as parts, products and models thereof, to alter living and non-living materials for the production of knowledge, goods and services (Van Beuzekom and Arundel, 2006). The crosscutting nature of biotechnology offers a distinct opportunity for economic growth while offering solutions to the myriad challenges globally encountered in food security, energy security and healthcare.
2017
Science & Technology Foresight Malaysia
Malaysia, Academy of Sciences Malaysia
Digital Technology
The branch of scientific or engineering knowledge that deals with creation and practical use of digital or computerised devices, methods, systems is named digital technology (Dictionary.com, 2015). The adoption of digital technology has had an enormous impact on economy, politics, personal life and society in terms of connectivity and interacting in real-time. Digitalisation of industries or sectors is providing new opportunities and enabling new business models such as sharing economy for environment and welfares.
2017
Science & Technology Foresight Malaysia
Malaysia, Academy of Sciences Malaysia