Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2021

The World Economic Forum's 2021 report highlights ten emerging technologies, emphasizing decarbonization efforts and sustainable agriculture. Key innovations include green ammonia and self-fertilizing crops to reduce emissions, alongside advancements in healthcare such as breath sensors and wireless biomarker monitors. The report also explores the role of 5G in powering the Internet of Things (IoT), space-based IoT for global connectivity, and 3D printing using local materials for sustainable housing.

• Decarbonization is emerging as a global priority, driven by national commitments such as the US goal to halve carbon output relative to 2005 levels by 2030, the UK's target of a 68% reduction compared to 1990 levels by 2030, and the EU's requirement for at least a 55% reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
• Industrial nitrogen fertiliser production is energy-intensive, accounting for 1% to 2% of global carbon dioxide emissions and approximately 1% of the world's primary energy needs.
• To reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture, researchers are developing crops that can self-fertilise by engineering nitrogen fixation into non-legume plants, such as cereals, by emulating the symbiotic relationship between legumes and soil bacteria.
• Green ammonia, produced using green hydrogen split from water via renewable energy, offers a carbon-free alternative to traditional ammonia synthesis. A partnership between Fertiberia and Iberdrola aims to expand solar-driven electrolytic hydrogen production to 800 MW by 2027, potentially saving 400,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
• Breath sensors provide a non-invasive diagnostic tool capable of detecting diseases like diabetes, lung cancer, and COVID-19. A clinical study in Wuhan, China, showed these sensors achieved 95% accuracy and 100% sensitivity in detecting COVID-19.
• On-demand drug manufacturing, or continuous-flow pharmaceutical manufacturing, allows for the production of tailored medicines at a single site, reducing the need for large-scale batch production and extensive transport infrastructure.
• The expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT), with an estimated 40 billion devices by 2025, is driving the need for wireless energy harvesting. 5G technology enables the capture of radiated energy via 'rectennas' to power low-power devices without plug-in charging.
• 3D printing using local materials, such as clay soil mixed with hemp, can reduce the mass of materials transported to construction sites by approximately 95%, offering a sustainable, zero-waste housing solution for remote or impoverished regions.
• Space-based IoT systems using nanosatellites (under 10kg) are being deployed to provide global connectivity where cellular networks are absent, enabling the tracking of assets and endangered species and the monitoring of farm data.

APA

World Economic Forum (2021). Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2021. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Top_10_Emerging_Technologies_of_2021.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2021. 2021. https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Top_10_Emerging_Technologies_of_2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2021 |date=November 2021 |url=https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Top_10_Emerging_Technologies_of_2021.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2021top, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2021}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Top_10_Emerging_Technologies_of_2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }