Trends Identified
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
“Smart” infrastructure
“Smart” infrastructure in power engineering (smart grid) – an integrated self-regulating and self-restoring electricity grid system with network topology and covering all generating sources, trunk and distribution networks and all forms of consumer electricity, all together managed as an integrated set by a single network of automated devices in real-time – will undergo further development in the short term. The importance of sensory networks and sensor units will increase at the next stage in order to synchronise disparate industry systems for monitoring purposes.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Cloud solutions
Cloud solutions are already on offer on IT services markets. It is sufficient to note the dramatic growth and publicity accorded to services to store content in the “cloud” which are being developed and supported by all of the major companies in the segment, as well as the increasing trend of migrating towards Internet-based applications and leading global software manufacturers moving to business models geared towards a “thin client”. According to recent research by McKinsey Global Institute, by 2025 the annual market potential of cloud technologies and applications according to various developmental scenarios for the global economy could range from 1.7 to 6.2 trillion dollars.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Fourth generation mobile communications (4G)
Fourth generation mobile communications (4G) are widely accepted as promising technologies which make it possible to transfer data at speeds in excess of 100 Mbit/s for mobile and 1 Gbit/s for fixed subscribers. The introduction of such networks has already started and in the near future there is expected to be widespread dissemination of 4G communications on a global scale and associated development of new forms of content services and business models.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Machine-to-machine interaction technologies
The development of machine-to-machine interaction technologies (machine-to-machine, M2M) will lead to the emergence of more flexible opportunities for collaboration and distributed control of infrastructure objects and will become an important stage on the route to implementing the global concept of the “Internet of Things”.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation