Insight Report Top 10 Emerging Technologies 2019

Insight Report

Top 10 Emerging Technologies 2019

June 2019

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Contents

Introduction

4

The top 10 emerging technologies for

5

2019

1. Bioplastics for a Circular

6

Economy

2. Social Robots

7

3. Tiny Lenses for Miniature

8

Devices

4. Disordered Proteins as Drug

9

Targets

5. Smarter Fertilizers Can Reduce

10

Environmental Contamination

6. Collaborative Telepresence

11

7. Advanced Food Tracking and

12

Packaging

8. Safer Nuclear Reactors

13

9. DNA Data Storage

14

10. Utility-Scale Storage of

15

Renewable Energy

Acknowledgements

16

Steering Committee

16

Guest Authors

16

Report Team

16

Production Team

16

Top 10 Emerging Technologies 2019

3

Introduction

World-changing technologies that are poised to rattle the status quo

One day soon an emerging technology highlighted in this report will allow you to virtually teleport to a distant site and actually feel the handshakes and hugs of fellow cyber-travellers. Also close to becoming commonplace: humanoid (and animaloid) robots designed to socialize with people; a system for pinpointing the source of a food-poisoning outbreak in seconds; minuscule lenses that will pave the way for diminutive cameras and other devices; strong, biodegradable plastics that can be fashioned from otherwise useless plant wastes; DNA-based data storage systems that will reliably stow ginormous amounts of information; and much more.

Mariette DiChristina, Editor-in-Chief, Scientific American, Executive VicePresident, Editorial and Publishing, Magazines, Nature Research Group of Springer Nature

An international Steering Committee of leading technology experts engaged in an intense process to identify this year's Top 10 Emerging Technologies. After soliciting nominations from additional experts around the globe, the Steering Committee evaluated dozens of proposals according to a number of criteria. Do the suggested technologies have the potential to provide major benefits to societies and economies? Could they alter established ways of doing things? Are they still in early stages of development but attracting a lot of interest from research labs, companies or investors? Are they likely to make significant inroads in the next several years? The committee sought added information where needed and honed the list in the course of four virtual meetings.

We hope you enjoy the result.

Bernard S. Meyerson Chief Innovation Officer, IBM Corporation

4

Top 10 Emerging Technologies 2019

The top 10 emerging technologies for 2019

1. Bioplastics for a Circular Economy

6. Collaborative Telepresence

2. Social Robots

7. Advanced Food Tracking and Packaging

3. Tiny Lenses for Miniature Devices

8. Safer Nuclear Reactors

4. Disordered Proteins as Drug Targets

5. Smarter Fertilizers Can Reduce Environmental Contamination

9. DNA Data Storage

10. Utility-Scale Storage of Renewable Energy

Top 10 Emerging Technologies 2019

5

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