Trends Identified

Increasing pressure on natural resources and biodiversity

Our growing population worldwide and increasing demand for natural resources (such as energy, water and food) have unleashed a series of threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services (food provision, clean water, regulation of climate etc.).

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Demand for higher education is growing, along with the costs

Australia’s highly educated workforce used to be an area of relative strength. However, it is now competing with the rapid rise in global education and computer adoption. The number of students enrolled in higher education in Australia is growing: from more than 984 000 students in 2006 to almost 1 410 000 in 2015.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

The global population is aging

It is expected that by 2050, 22% of the world’s population (about two billion people) will be aged over 65 years.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Lifestyle illnesses on the rise

Globally, the number of obese adults has increased since the year 2000, especially in OECD countries.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Millennials are the most digitally savvy generation, but they face tough challenges

While millennials are the most educated across advanced economies, they are also the most underutilised generation.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Malicious cyber activity is an increasing security challenge

Government and business services are moving online at higher rates than ever before, as are many of our personal interactions

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Explosion of connected devices and increasing demand for bandwidth tests internet infrastructure

Internet-connected devices are beginning to deliver bene t in areas such as transportation, smart grids, supply chains, urban planning, agriculture, national security, retail and healthcare169 and recent estimates suggest between 30 and 50 billion devices will be deployed by 2020170.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Costs of fundamental digital capabilities are dropping at an exponential rate

As our core computation, digital storage and network technologies become increasingly affordable relative to performance, they support an increasingly innovative and diverse system which has richer digital information and services.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Sensors

Sensing technologies will capture data from our physical world and make it available as digital information. They will continue to become smaller, smarter and, in some cases, self-powering.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Share, exchange & analyse

Humans will increasingly generate data from their explicit (e.g. social media) and implicit (e.g. web browsing) digital activities. The internet is powerful in connecting, optimising and enabling collaborative consumption, however, we leave many traces. Where monopolies emerge, privacy is an issue.

2017

Surfing the digital tsunami

Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)