World Economic Forum Reveals 10 Breakthrough Technologies for 2025

TIANJIN, China - The World Economic Forum published its annual list of 10 emerging technologies on Tuesday, identifying innovations that the organization expects to have a real-world impact within three to five years.

The technologies address challenges including congestion, pollution, disease, and climate stress, according to the Forum's report. The list represents the 13th edition of the annual assessment.

The Forum collaborated with Frontiers, a scientific publisher, to produce the report. More than 300 experts participated in the selection process through the Forum's Global Future Councils, University and Research Network, and Frontiers editorial network.

"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.

The technologies fall into four categories: trust and safety in connected systems, sustainable industry, health biotechnologies, and energy-material integration.

Collaborative sensing utilizes networks of interconnected sensors to enable vehicles, cities, and emergency services to share information in real time.

The technology aims to enhance safety and reduce traffic congestion, according to the report.

Generative watermarking adds invisible tags to AI-generated content to distinguish real from artificial material. The Forum said this could help combat misinformation.

Green nitrogen fixation produces fertilizer using electricity instead of fossil fuels. The process could reduce pollution and carbon emissions, the report stated.

Nanozymes are laboratory-made materials that function like natural enzymes but are stronger, cheaper, and easier to use. Applications include medical tests, pollution cleanup, and manufacturing.

Engineered living therapeutics use designed bacteria to deliver treatment from inside the body.

The Forum stated that this could make long-term care more affordable and effective in the long term.

GLP-1 drugs, initially developed for diabetes and weight loss, show promise in treating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Autonomous biochemical sensing involves small sensors that monitor health or environmental changes continuously without requiring wires or human oversight.

Structural battery composites store energy while providing structural support for vehicles and aircraft. The technology could make electric vehicles lighter and more efficient.

Osmotic power systems generate electricity by capturing energy where saltwater and freshwater meet. The Forum described these as a source of steady, low-impact power in coastal areas.

Advanced nuclear technologies include smaller reactor designs and alternative cooling systems.

The Forum said these offer safer, lower-cost, clean energy as demand grows from electrification and artificial intelligence.

Each technology underwent evaluation through expert nominations, literature review, peer assessment, and analysis of adoption conditions.

"The path from breakthrough research to tangible societal progress depends on transparency, collaboration, and open science," said Frederick Fenter, Chief Executive Editor of Frontiers.

The report identified a trend toward technology convergence, with innovations combining multiple functions rather than operating as standalone solutions.

The Forum called for investment, infrastructure, standards, and governance frameworks to scale the technologies. It urged collaboration between business, government, and scientific communities.