World Economic Forum and Frontiers Reveal Ten Technologies Poised to Transform Cities, Health, Industry and Energy by 2030

(IN BRIEF) The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Top 10 Emerging Technologies report, produced with Frontiers, identifies ten innovations ready for deployment within three to five years. Addressing global challenges in urban mobility, online trust, sustainable production, healthcare, and clean energy, the list spans collaborative sensing for smarter cities; generative watermarking to counter misinformation; green nitrogen fixation and nanozymes for eco-friendly industry; engineered living therapeutics and GLP-1 drugs repurposed for neurodegenerative diseases; autonomous biochemical sensors for continuous monitoring; structural battery composites for lightweight energy storage; osmotic power systems harnessing natural salinity gradients; and advanced small-scale nuclear reactors. The report emphasizes four key trends and details the capital, infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and partnerships needed to bring these breakthroughs to scale.

(PRESS RELEASE) GENEVA, 24-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — In a landmark collaboration with Frontiers, the World Economic Forum has unveiled its 13th Annual Top 10 Emerging Technologies report, highlighting ten innovations poised to make a tangible impact within three to five years. Unveiled on 24 June 2025 at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China, these breakthroughs tackle urgent challenges—from urban congestion and pollution to chronic disease and climate stress—while reflecting four overarching trends: trust and safety in a connected world, sustainable industry redesign, next-generation biotechnologies for health, and the convergence of energy and materials.

“Scientific and technological breakthroughs are advancing rapidly, even as the global environment for innovation grows more complex,” said Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum. “This report gives leaders a clear roadmap of which technologies are ready to scale, how they can address pressing global problems, and what is needed to bring them to market responsibly.”

The ten technologies are:

Collaborative sensing – Networks of connected sensors allow vehicles, traffic systems, and emergency responders to share data in real time, boosting safety and reducing congestion.
Generative watermarking – Invisible tags embedded in AI-generated content help distinguish authentic material from misinformation, reinforcing trust online.
Green nitrogen fixation – Electrified methods for producing fertilizer replace fossil-fuel processes, cutting emissions and enabling more sustainable agriculture.
Nanozymes – Lab-engineered materials that mimic enzymes but offer greater durability and lower cost, with applications in diagnostics, pollution cleanup, and safer manufacturing.
Engineered living therapeutics – Designer bacteria deliver treatments from within the body, promising more effective, long-term care for chronic conditions.
GLP-1 therapies for neurodegenerative diseases – Drugs first developed for diabetes and weight management now show potential to slow Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other neurodegenerative disorders.
Autonomous biochemical sensing – Wireless, self-powered sensors continuously monitor health metrics or environmental markers, enabling earlier detection of illness or contamination.
Structural battery composites – Materials that serve as both load-bearing structures and energy storage, reducing weight and improving efficiency in electric vehicles and aircraft.
Osmotic power systems – Technologies that harvest energy at the interface of saltwater and freshwater offer a reliable, low-impact source of renewable electricity.
Advanced nuclear technologies – Compact reactor designs and novel cooling methods promise safer, more cost-effective zero-carbon power to meet growing energy demands.

Frederick Fenter, Chief Executive Editor of Frontiers, added, “Transparency, collaboration, and open science are critical to translating breakthrough research into real-world solutions. Together with the World Economic Forum, we’ve delivered evidence-based insights on the technologies that will shape a better future for all.”

Each innovation was selected through expert nominations, a comprehensive literature review, peer assessments, and analysis of adoption conditions. The report outlines the investments, infrastructure, standards, and governance frameworks required to scale these technologies responsibly.

About the Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report

Now in its 13th edition, the Top 10 Emerging Technologies report provides trusted foresight to help leaders navigate scientific and technological change. Drawing on the expertise of scientists, researchers and futurists, the report identifies ten innovations expected to scale within five years and deliver wide societal benefits.

The 2025 report was produced in collaboration with Frontiers and selected through a global process involving over 300 experts from the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Councils, the University and Research Network, the Frontiers editorial network, and co-chairs Mariette DiChristina and Bernard Meyerson.

About the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025

The 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions will take place from 24 to 26 June 2025 in Tianjin, People’s Republic of China, under the theme “Entrepreneurship for a New Era”. The meeting will convene over 1,700 leaders from business, government, civil society, academia, international organizations, innovation and media to explore entrepreneurial solutions to global challenges.

World Economic Forum and Frontiers Reveal Ten Technologies Poised to Transform Cities, Health, Industry and Energy by 2030

SEARCH 30,000+ EUROPEAN PRESS RELEASES

About EuropaWire

PRs by Dates

Industries & Countries

Archived PRs

Recent PRs

POPULAR TAGS

Links