TECHVISION 2020
Top 50 Technologies Reshaping the World
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By Rajiv Kumar
Senior Vice President and Partner
Frost & Sullivan
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Wireless charging, energy harvesting, smart pills and electric vehicle batteries are just a few of the top 50 technologies and innovations identified under the newly launched TechVision 2020 initiative by Frost & Sullivan.
The TechVision 2020 Program is flagship research by Technical Insights (TI), the Technology Research and Consulting division of Frost & Sullivan. An annual research initiative of the Technical Insights team, TechVision 2020 program’s primary objective is to identify key technologies that will impact our lives in this decade.
This body of work is a culmination of thousands of hours of research and analysis by over 50 global TI analysts based in six continents. Each year, intelligence is gathered on emerging and disruptive technologies and innovations from around the globe, then numerous interviews are conducted with innovators and developers and each technology is rated and compared across multiple parameters including global R&D foot print, year of Impact, global IP patenting activity, private and government funding, current and emerging applications and current and potential adoption rate. The selected technologies are then divided across nine Technology Clusters—Sensors & Automation, Materials & Coatings, Conventional Energy, Information & Communication Technology, Microelectronics, Clean & Green Technology, Lifesciences & Biotechnology, Medical Devices & Imaging Technology and Advanced Manufacturing—which represent the bulk of R&D and innovation activity today.
Finally, the list is condensed into the Top 50 technologies which we believe have the maximum potential for wide-scale launch and mass commercialization. This year, the Top Emerging Technologies revealed at Frost & Sullivan’s flagship event, GIL 2011: India, The Global Community of Growth, Innovation and Leadership, were:
- Sensors and Automation: CBRN Detection Technologies, Energy Harvesting, Smart Sensors and Wireless Sensor Networks
- Materials and Coatings: Algae-Based Ingredients, Nanocatalysts, Advance Filtration, Smart Textiles, Compostable Packaging, Superhydrophobic Coatings, Enzyme Technology, Breathable Antibacterial Coatings, and Lightweight Composites
- Conventional Energy: Enhanced Oil Recovery, Clean Coal and Advanced Hydrocracking
- Information and Communications Technology: Cloud Computing, Virtualization, Semantic Web, Fabric Computing and Long-Term Evolution
- Microelectronics: LED Lighting Technologies, 3D Integration, Flexible Technologies, Haptics and Touch Technologies, Emerging Data Storage Technologies, Wireless Power Transmission and Next Generation Displays
- Clean and Green Technology: Smart Grid, Thin Film Photovoltaic, Renewable Chemicals, Green Buildings, Advanced Energy Storage, Green Vehicles and 2nd Generation Bio Fuels
- Lifesciences and Biotechnology: Genome Sequencing, Biosensing, Adult Stem Cells, Nanofluids and BioNEMS and 3D Cell Culture System
- Medical Devices and Imaging Technology: Digital Pathology, Smart Pills, Hybrid Imaging Technologies, Medical Robotics, Combination Devices and Optical Imaging Technologies
- Advanced Manufacturing: Micro and Nano Manufacturing, Intelligent Robots, Digital Manufacturing and Advanced Lasers for Manufacturing
Applied, these technologies are poised to have significant impact. For example, the quest for increased mobility has given rise to technologies in the Information & Communication Technology and Microelectronics clusters including cloud computing—exploding as an industry in its own right—and wireless charging. The latter will free consumers from their dependence on plug-in chargers to charge their phones, tablets, cameras and other mobile devices. The technology involves a metal plate, which will allow consumers to charge devices wirelessly. The technology will be deployed in public places such as airports, cafes and restaurants.
Likewise, flexible electronics will completely revolutionize our perspective on devices. Imagine a personal electronics device that is completely flexible. It can be rolled and twisted, and doing so would cause no damage to the device. Add to this, beneficial characteristics such as being scratch resistant, hydrophobic and dust repellant. These innovations will significantly impact multiple sectors including consumer electronics, healthcare, military and more. The logistics of these technologies are gaining attention, with accelerated growth projected for the coming years.
And, in the Clean & Green Technology space, one of the hottest trends, currently, is the advancement in battery technologies for renewable electricity storage and electric vehicle batteries. This innovation will increase the adoption of zero-emission power generation in automobiles and accelerate the movement toward green vehicles.
According to Anand S, Research Director, Technical Insights, Frost & Sullivan, “While each Technology Cluster is an independent domain demonstrating excellence in Global R&D and innovation, all clusters are virtually interlocked. The vast arrays of current and future applications of these dynamic technologies are interdependent and overlapping. These emerging technologies are rapidly evolving and form a vortex of innovation driving new concepts, products and services.”
About the author:
Rajiv Kumar, Senior Vice President and Partner, joined Frost & Sullivan in 1993 bringing with him extensive experience in research, strategy consulting and business management experience including developing and implementing growth strategies across business units. His expertise includes analyzing emerging technologies and markets for commercialization and growth opportunities, developing strategies and implementation plans for product development and outsourcing and conducting due diligence of companies, product ideas and new markets to support partnership and M&A activities. Kumar earned his BBS from University of Delhi, India, an MBA from UA, Belgium, Master of Management Research in Knowledge Management from UniSA, Australia and is a PhD. candidate in Knowledge Management from UniSA, Australia.
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