In the ever-evolving tech landscape, only a few innovations leave a lasting mark. Predicting which ones will shape the future is challenging, but the World Economic Forum (WEF) has released its list of the top 10 emerging technologies for 2025. These technologies are expected to address global challenges in the next three to five years. The list, developed with Frontiers Media, focuses on novel concepts nearing maturity that could provide significant societal benefits.
One highlighted technology is advanced nuclear tech. With rising demand, smaller reactors and alternative cooling systems promise safer, cleaner, and more cost-effective energy solutions. Structural battery composites are also featured, offering lighter vehicles by combining energy storage with structural support, thus enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
Collaborative sensing is another key innovation, allowing vehicles to share real-time data with each other and urban infrastructure, improving traffic management and safety. Generative watermarking addresses the rise of AI by tagging AI-generated content to combat misinformation. Green nitrogen offers a sustainable alternative for fertilizer production using electricity instead of fossil fuels.
GLP-1 drugs, currently used for obesity and diabetes, show potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Autonomous biochemical sensing enables continuous monitoring of environmental or health changes without wires, aiding early disease detection and pollution tracking. Nanozymes, lab-made enzymes, are more robust and affordable, expanding their applications in medicine and pollution control.
Engineered living therapeutics use beneficial bacteria for internal treatments, potentially reducing healthcare costs and improving outcomes. Osmotic power systems harness the pressure difference between freshwater and saltwater to generate clean electricity, particularly useful in coastal regions.
— news from Fast Company
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These are the top 10 emerging technologies of 2025, according to the World Economic Forum
Breakthroughs happen all the time in the tech world, but only a select few manage to make a lasting impact.
Predicting which innovations will shape the future is always a challenge. On Tuesday, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released its list of the top 10 emerging technologies of 2025, highlighting those expected to influence global challenges within the next three to five years.
The list, compiled with the help of Frontiers Media, a publisher of peer-reviewed scientific journals, avoids naming specific companies. Instead, the WEF focuses on concepts that are both novel and nearing maturity, with the potential to deliver meaningful benefits to society.
Here’s what the WEF sees as being on the path to a breakthrough in 2025.
Advanced nuclear tech
Demand for nuclear energy is on the rise, with the Trump administration pledging to fast-track permits for nuclear projects. The WEF predicts that smaller nuclear designs and alternative cooling systems will offer safer, cleaner energy at a lower cost. These reactors, it says, “could play a key role in building reliable, zero-carbon power systems.”
Structural battery composites
The weight of batteries has been a pain point for things like cars and planes, impacting their efficiency. New materials that store energy and support weight can make these vehicles lighter, improving both their performance and their environmental impact.
Collaborative sensing
Speaking of vehicles, networking connected sensors can let vehicles share information in real time with each other, as well as with cities and emergency services. In the case of an incident, this can reduce traffic, increase response times, and improve safety, the WEF says.
Generative watermarking
As artificial intelligence becomes even more widespread, distinguishing original content from AI-generated material will be critical. Generative watermarking adds an invisible tag to AI content, helping combat misinformation and build consumer trust.
Green nitrogen
Producing fertilizer today requires fossil fuels, which leads to pollution and carbon emissions. Green nitrogen, which relies on electricity instead, could offer “a more sustainable way to grow food,” the WEF says.
GLP-1 drugs for neurodegenerative diseases
GLP-1 drugs are currently used to treat obesity and diabetes. The WEF notes they are also showing promise in treating other diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
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Autonomous biochemical sensing
Smart sensors capable of continuously monitoring environmental changes or human health without wires could unlock numerous possibilities. The medical field may use them for early disease detection, while scientists can apply them to track pollution and atmospheric trends.
Nanozymes
Naturally occurring enzymes help clean pollution and are used in medical diagnostics. Lab-made versions, called nanozymes, are stronger and cheaper, which could expand their use in a variety of applications.
Engineered living therapeutics
Long-term medical care is expensive and often inconsistent in its results. Scientists, according to the WEF, are developing therapies that use beneficial bacteria to deliver treatments from within the body. This approach could lower costs and improve success rates.
Osmotic power systems
This renewable energy source, which uses the pressure difference that occurs when freshwater and saltwater mix, produces a cleaner form of electricity. That can be especially helpful in coastal areas where special care must be taken to protect both the environment and wildlife.