Technology is evolving at a rapid pace, but only a few breakthroughs are ready to create real-world impact. The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Emerging Technologies report reveals exactly which ones—and why they matter now.
In collaboration with Frontiers, the report identifies 10 breakthrough innovations that are not only novel but also mature enough to scale within three to five years. These technologies were chosen for their potential to solve urgent global challenges. They address issues such as healthcare, sustainability, misinformation, and clean energy access.
This year’s edition reveals four transformational themes:
- Trust and safety in a connected world
- Next-generation biotechnologies
- Redesigning sustainable industry
- Energy and material convergence
COLLABORATIVE SENSING: REAL-TIME DATA FOR SAFER, SMARTER CITIES
Imagine vehicles, traffic lights, and emergency services working together in real time. Collaborative sensing makes this possible through networks of connected sensors. By enabling urban infrastructure and transportation systems to share situational data instantly, cities can reduce congestion, prevent accidents, and respond faster to emergencies.
This is especially critical as urban populations grow and the demand for efficient city operationsincreases every year.
GENERATIVE WATERMARKING: PROTECTING TRUST IN THE AGE OF AI
In a world flooded with AI-generated content, how do we separate fact from fabrication? Generative watermarking offers an elegant solution. This technology embeds invisible markers in AI-created images, videos, or text. It helps platforms and users verify content origins without altering its appearance.
As misinformation surges online, such tools are vital. They help restore trust in digital information. They also defend against deepfakes and identity theft.
GREEN NITROGEN FIXATION: REVOLUTIONIZING FERTILIZER FOR A CLEANER PLANET
Fertilizers are critical for global food production, but traditional methods emit large volumes of CO₂ due to fossil-fuel reliance. Green nitrogen fixation provides a cleaner, electricity-based method for creating ammonia, the main ingredient in most fertilizers.
By replacing polluting processes with renewable-powered chemistry, this breakthrough could dramatically reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint—while boosting global food security.
NANOZYMES: SYNTHETIC ENZYMES TACKLING POLLUTION AND DISEASE
Enzymes speed up biological reactions, but they can be expensive and fragile. Enter nanozymes—lab-made materials that mimic enzymes but are more stable, cost-effective, and scalable.
They show promise in medical diagnostics. They are useful in pollution clean-up and safer chemical production. It offer tools to address healthcare and climate risks simultaneously.
Nanozymes may also advance green chemistry, paving the way for low-impact industrial processes worldwide.
ENGINEERED LIVING THERAPEUTICS: PRECISION MEDICINE FROM INSIDE THE BODY
Scientists are now programming beneficial bacteria to act as living medicines—treating disease directly from within the body. These engineered microbes can deliver drugs, repair tissue, or even regulate immune responses—all from your gut or bloodstream.
Unlike conventional treatments, living therapeutics could offer long-term relief with fewer side effects, reshaping how we manage chronic illness.
GLP-1 THERAPIES FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES: A NEW HOPE FOR THE BRAIN
Originally used to manage diabetes and obesity, GLP-1 receptor agonists are now showing promise in treating Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. These drugs may slow neurodegeneration by improving metabolism and reducing brain inflammation—a hopeful breakthrough in a field with few effective treatments.
With neurodegenerative diseases on the rise, GLP-1 therapies could soon become a cornerstone of next-generation neurological care.
AUTONOMOUS BIOCHEMICAL SENSING: SMART SENSORS FOR HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT
Tiny, self-powered sensors can now monitor biological or environmental conditions without needing human input or external power. These autonomous biochemical sensors are capable of detecting early signs of illness or pollution in real time—transforming how we detect and respond to threats.
From monitoring air quality to predicting infections, this innovation enables low-cost, continuous diagnostics in both health and climate applications.
STRUCTURAL BATTERY COMPOSITES: POWER MEETS PERFORMANCE
What if your car’s body could also store energy? That’s the promise of structural battery composites—materials that act as both energy storage and structural support. By integrating batteries into the frame of vehicles or aircraft, manufacturers can reduce weight, improve range, and enhance efficiency.
This convergence of material science and energy design is a game-changer for electric transportation and carbon emission goals.
OSMOTIC POWER SYSTEMS: TAPPING THE OCEAN FOR CLEAN ENERGY
Where freshwater meets seawater, osmotic gradients can be harnessed to generate power—offering a stable, clean energy source in coastal regions. Osmotic power systems require no combustion or emissions, making them one of the lowest-impact renewable energy options.
Though still emerging, this innovation could complement wind and solar, especially in regions struggling with energy reliability.
ADVANCED NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES: SAFER, SCALABLE CLEAN ENERGY
New nuclear designs—such as small modular reactors—promise safer, cheaper, and more flexible alternatives to traditional reactors. Advanced cooling systems and fuel options are making nuclear more adaptable to modern grids and climate-conscious energy policies.
As electricity demands skyrocket due to AI, EVs, and industrial decarbonization, advanced nuclear may play a vital role in reliable, zero-carbon energy systems.
TECHNOLOGY CONVERGENCE: FROM STANDALONE TOOLS TO INTEGRATED SYSTEMS
A key insight from this year’s report is the rise of technology convergence—where previously isolated innovations merge into integrated solutions.
Examples include:
- Structural battery composites, combining material science with energy
- Living therapeutics, blending synthetic biology with drug delivery
- Collaborative sensing, uniting AI, IoT, and mobility infrastructure
This shift toward system-based innovation signals a move from standalone products to holistic, scalable transformations in society and industry.
WHAT IT TAKES TO SCALE: INVESTMENT, STANDARDS, AND PUBLIC TRUST
According to the World Economic Forum, these technologies will only reach full impact if supported by:
- Long-term investment
- Open science and collaboration
- Infrastructure readiness
- Responsible governance
Bringing these breakthroughs to scale needs a collaborative effort. Governments, businesses, and scientists must work transparently and ethically. This ensures that benefits reach all layers of society.
A Blueprint for a Resilient, Connected Future
The 2025 Emerging Technologies list offers more than predictions—it’s a roadmap for tackling global challenges with purpose-built innovation. It highlights improvements in health and sustainability. It focuses on building safer cities and smarter systems. These technologies represent a vision of progress grounded in science and equity.
If leaders invest wisely and act collaboratively, these ten innovations could help reshape the next decade for the better—starting now.
