The Next-Generation Computing Framework

The report argues that computing is shifting from a product to a national utility, with global infrastructure investment projected to exceed $1.5 trillion by 2027. It introduces a seven-dimension acceleration framework—covering compute and connectivity, infrastructure, data governance, talent, partnerships, cybersecurity, and deployment—to help leaders manage the transition. The framework emphasizes three enabling pillars: sovereignty and interdependence, cybersecurity and resilience, and sustainability. It advocates for 'meaningful participation' over absolute ownership to maintain strategic agency and warns that energy availability is becoming a binding constraint for next-generation paradigms like quantum and AI computing.

• Computing is transitioning from a commercial product to a strategic national infrastructure and essential utility, with global investment in computing infrastructure rising from $97 billion in 2022 to $448 billion in 2025, and expected to exceed $1.5 trillion by 2027.
• Next-generation computing is defined as an evolving set of technologies—including AI infrastructure, high-performance computing, quantum science, neuromorphic systems, edge and in-orbit computing, and biological or hybrid forms—that expand traditional computing capabilities.
• Sovereignty in next-generation computing is redefined as 'agency'—the ability to make strategic choices about hosting, data control, and system exit—rather than nominal ownership of assets, given the deep global interdependence of hardware, talent, and supply chains.
• Energy availability is a critical structural determinant of technology sovereignty and a binding constraint for AI and quantum computing; for example, data centers accounted for approximately 55% of the increase in expected US load growth to 2030 (from 24 GW to 166 GW).
• Cybersecurity for next-generation computing must be treated as a systemic property rather than a discrete technical safeguard, requiring 'resilience-by-design' that integrates security at early technology readiness levels (TRLs) and anticipates future threats like post-quantum cryptography.
• The report proposes a seven-dimension scorecard (Compute and connectivity, Infrastructure, Data assets and governance, Talent and skills, Sovereignty and partnerships, Cybersecurity and resilience, and Deployment and diffusion) to diagnose readiness from Level 1 (Aware) to Level 5 (Anticipatory).
• Governments are making significant multi-year commitments to these technologies, including the EU's €8.2 billion for EuroHPC JU, the UK's £2 billion for the UK Compute Roadmap through 2030, the US's $2 billion for quantum incentives, Singapore's S$300 million National Quantum Strategy, and Canada's investments exceeding C$1.2 million.

APA

World Economic Forum (2026). The Next-Generation Computing Framework. https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Next_Generation_Computing_Framework_2026.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. The Next-Generation Computing Framework. 2026. https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Next_Generation_Computing_Framework_2026.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=The Next-Generation Computing Framework |date=October 2026 |url=https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Next_Generation_Computing_Framework_2026.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2026nextgeneration, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{The Next-Generation Computing Framework}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2026}, month = oct, url = {https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_Next_Generation_Computing_Framework_2026.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }