From flying robots to digital genomes, the top 10 emerging technologies of 2015

From autonomous drones to emergent AI and digital genomes, below are the top 10 emerging technologies of 2015.

18:01 05 March 2015

Technological breakthroughs promise solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. If you’re wondering what’s coming this year, a panel of 18 experts has compiled a list of emerging technologies of 2015.

The ones that made the list compiled by the World Economic Forum’s Meta-Council on Emerging Technologies are the following:


1.    Fuel-cell vehicles – The technology required for the manufacturing of zero-emission cars that run on hydrogen has begun and automotive companies are on the stage on planning launching for consumers. Although the initial price is said to be at least $70,000, experts agree that this would be significantly reduced as volumes increase within the next couple of years.

2.    Next-generation robots – Advances in robotics technology are extremely promising. The new age of robotics has allowed newly created robots to move from assembly lines and perform a wide variety of tasks. In Japan, robots are now being tried in nursing roles.

3.    Recyclable thermoset plastics – With the world’s problem with landfill waste, it is the hope that recyclable thermoset plastics, which are expected to cut landfill waste, be introduced as early as possible.

4.    Precise genetic-engineering techniques – New techniques can be used to directly alter the genetic code of plants to cope with changing climate and to produce higher quality fruits and vegetables.

5.    Additive manufacturing – Three dimensional products, printable organs, and intelligent clothes will no longer be things in the past.

6.    Emergent artificial intelligence – Next generation robotics will be improved by AI to significantly increase the productivity and to perform certain human tasks.

7.    Distributed manufacturing - Distributed marketing means that the raw materials and methods of fabrication will be decentralised and the final product will be manufactured very close to the end customer.

8.    “Sense and avoid” drones - The next generation drones are expected to be designed to fly by themselves so they can be used to a wider range of applications. In order to do so, they must have the capability to sense and respond to their local environments, making decisions to alter the flying trajectories to avoid collision.

9.     Neuromorphic technology - It is expected that computer chips that mimic the human brain will be created soon. This technology is the next stage in powerful computing, enabling vastly more rapid processing of data and a better capacity for machine learning.

10.    Digital genome - Human genome can be sequenced and digitised in minutes at reasonable prices. This technology will revolutionise health care.