Trends Identified
Regulation of rapidly evolving S&T
The rate of change in science and technology is likely to accelerate, and science and technology are likely to play an increasingly important role in our economy and our lives. Product safety, public trust and competitive advantage will best be served by systems with efficient and timely testing and regulation.
2013
Metascan 3 emerging technologies
Canada, Policy Horizons Canada
Regulation and legislation
Ageing and environmental laws are likely to shape much future regulation and legislation at least within the European Union.
2012
The future
Steria
Regtech Systems
Letting computers keep up with compliance
2018
Corum Top Ten Disruptive Technology Trends 2018
Corum
Regional agreements between Europe, the US, and Africa face an uncertain future
Contrary to many fears, the end of the Multi- Fibre Arrangement did not mark the end of trade preferences for Africa. Both the United States and the European Union introduced new preferences in 2001. The future of both preference schemes is uncertain.
2011
Africa in 50 Years’ Time
African Development Bank
Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering
Regenerative medicine has developed from new scientific discoveries, notably in the stem cell field. It offers hope for life-threatening or untreatable diseases, such as Parkinson's or Huntington's disease, and provides new approaches to treat diseases with serious societal impact, such as diabetes, and for the ageing population.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Regeneration of lost or diseased tissue
Organ donor wait-lists and black market organ trading may be things of the past for all but the most complicated organs, such as the heart. Growing or 3D printing of organs from a patient’s own cells will allow for faster recovery without rejection. Even nerve damage may become surmountable with the assistance of BCI and robotics. As a consequence, we should anticipate that the line between natural versus enhanced human capability will blur.
2013
Metascan 3 emerging technologies
Canada, Policy Horizons Canada
Reengineering technology- building new it delivery models from the top down and bottom up
With business strategies linked inseparably to technology, leading organizations are fundamentally rethinking how they envision, deliver, and evolve technology solutions. They are transforming IT departments into engines for driving business growth, with responsibilities that span back-office systems, operations, and even product and platform offerings. From the bottom up, they are modernizing infrastructure and the architecture stack. From the top down, they are organizing, operating, and delivering technology capabilities in new ways. In tandem, these approaches can deliver more than efficiency—they offer the tools, velocity, and empowerment that will define the technology organization of the future.
2017
Tech trends 2018
Deloitte
Redefine winning: The new rules for sports brands
A new global generation of fans and customers has emerged, with new tastes and new expectations, shifting definitions of what sports brands actually are. From the rise of eSports to the transforming face of fandom, there are new rules and new winners. From fields to phones, all sports are increasingly digital. And digital distinctiveness is ever more important—to stand for something can mean everything to the next generation.
2019
The top trends for brands to watch in 2019
Landor
Recycling
In a context of increasing global awareness over the adverse environmental effects of improper handling of waste, European waste management is becoming increasingly complex due to growing waste generation and number of waste streams needing tailored management routes. It is thus challenging to improve the efficiency of the use of natural resources (e.g. “turn waste into resources” in a circular economy approach) and, ultimately, improve the environmental sustainability of current waste management strategies. Science-based evidence is nonetheless available showing that, from a life cycle perspective, significant environmental benefits can be achieved through higher rates of reuse, recycling and energy recovery. This is reflected also in several EC Directives. However, to identify cost-efficient and environmentally sound recycling options and set up waste-type specific targets for optimal recycling rates, adapting life-cycle based methodologies and applying them in a consistent way across high priority waste stream is required. Equally, it will be required to take into account also the social and economic aspects of waste management in a systematic manner.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Recyclable thermoset plastics
Plastics are divided into thermoplastics and thermoset plastics. The former can be heated and shaped many times, and are ubiquitous in the modern world, comprising everything from children’s toys to lavatory seats. Because they can be melted down and reshaped, thermoplastics are generally recyclable. Thermoset plastics however can only be heated and shaped once, after which molecular changes mean that they are “cured”, retaining their shape and strength even when subject to intense heat and pressure.Due to this durability, thermoset plastics are a vital part of our modern world, and are used in everything from mobile phones and circuit boards to the aerospace industry. But the same characteristics that have made them essential in modern manufacturing also make them impossible to recycle. As a result, most thermoset polymers end up as landfill. Given the ultimate objective of sustainability, there has long been a pressing need for recyclability in thermoset plastics. In 2014 critical advances were made in this area, with the publication of a landmark paper in the journal Science announcing the discovery of new classes of thermosetting polymers that are recyclable. Called poly(hexahydrotriazine)s, or PHTs, these can be dissolved in strong acid, breaking apart the polymer chains into component monomers that can then be reassembled into new products. Like traditional unrecyclable thermosets, these new structures are rigid, resistant to heat and tough, with the same potential applications as their unrecyclable forerunners. Although no recycling is 100% efficient, this innovation – if widely deployed – should speed up the move towards a circular economy with a big reduction in landfill waste from plastics. We expect recyclable thermoset polymers to replace unrecyclable thermosets within five years, and to be ubiquitous in newly manufactured goods by 2025.
2015
Top 10 emerging technologies of 2015
World Economic Forum (WEF)