Seven trends to watch in 2025
Tech beyond AI
AI has dominated the headlines for the past two years, but it is not the only tech trend worth watching. Advancements in robotics and automation are transforming industries by boosting efficiency, productivity and safety. From autonomous vehicles to robotic process automation, these technologies are reshaping various sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare and logistics. For instance, one pioneering start-up truck maker providing Autonomous Transportation as a Service (ATaaS) is due to launch driverless freight services in Texas in 2025, while Tesla plans to deploy 1,000 humanoid robots in its factories by the end of the year.1 Meanwhile, AI will also continue to evolve, with promising areas for growth in biotech – such as drug development, data and image analysis and drug repurposing – and in consumer services and the workplace, where technology can enhance productivity.
3D chips
Your smartphone, computer, car and even your country’s military equipment all rely on semiconductors. Companies worldwide are scrambling to make these chips smaller, while increasing computing power and energy efficiency. As the stacking of transistors on silicon wafers reaches physical limits, we expect the industry’s shift from 2D to 3D architecture to continue. Chip designers are increasingly thinking in three dimensions, stacking tiny squares – known as “chiplets” – that would normally form one chip on top of a base silicone layer using hybrid bonding. High bandwidth memory is a high-performance, low-latency memory technology built from stacks of advanced DR AM (dynamic random access memory). One benefit is cost as not all the chiplets need to be equally sophisticated and some can thus be produced using cheaper manufacturing techniques. Samsung Electronics is one of the companies planning to introduce a new 3D chip in 2025.2
CDMOs – new kids on the block in pharma
The growing complexity of new medicines and treatments is spurring demand for a group of companies called CDMOs (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations). These specialised service providers focus on specific areas of drug development and manufacturing. By outsourcing some of these activities to CDMOs, pharma companies can share some of the risks and ultimately accelerate the delivery of new therapies. CDMO s add value by streamlining the research and manufacturing process across the industry – often leading the way with new technologies, including AI. They have a growing role to play in modern medicine, including in the development of personalised treatments and cell therapies.
Trees reimagined
Wood, one of the world’s oldest materials, is enjoying a resurgence. Its popularity is rising as a packaging material, driven by green consumerism and the growth of e-commerce, but also as a building material. Thanks to new technological advances such as cross-laminated timber and a raft of new environmental building regulations, wood is becoming a significant component in construction projects. But it is also a key ingredient in new materials, such as wood-based PET used in clear Coca-Cola bottles, and biodiesel that can be used to dilute or substitute traditional diesel for lorries and cars. Timberlands are increasingly being used for renewable energy infrastructure, including wind turbine towers and structures for mounting solar panels in open areas. And many are realising that wood can also play a more direct role in the world’s quest for carbon capture and storage, either through credits or bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS).
Solving the gridlock
A greener planet needs significantly more electricity – and from clean sources. To achieve that, we need a smarter power grid. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that to meet net zero emission goals, we need to build or modernise 25 million kilometres of electricity grids in the next five years.3 Firstly, the increased use of renewables requires investing in network interconnections to transport power from remote solar- and wind-rich areas to demand centres and connect renewable energy production to the grid. Secondly, sector electrification such as the rise of electric vehicles and heat pumps will increase electricity demand, requiring grid reinforcement and modernisation. Thirdly, grids will need to be able to withstand extreme weather events resulting from climate change to avoid power outages.
Fight against floods
Floods cause USD40 billion in damage each year and affect millions of people.4 It’s not just climate change, but also broader weather events and the urbanisation of flood-prone areas that make it essential to build structures and develop landscapes that are more resilient to these natural disasters. For instance, in 2024, Europe was hit by some of its worst flooding in over two decades.
Flood resilience is a key pillar of climate adaptation, including constructing flood defences and managing flood water. Cities are focusing on creating more resilient infrastructure and using technology to better plan defences – such as using digital twins to model potential flood impacts. New York is one of the cities enforcing new building regulations to ensure flood resilience, with stringent standards for critical infrastructure such as hospitals and power plants, and has initiated a project to fortify its defences against coastal flooding.
Smart nutrition
Food is fuel, and we are getting smarter about what we consume. The USD45 billion sports nutrition market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 7.5 per cent through to 20305, driven by strong demand for supplements that can enhance performance, fitness and post-exercise recovery and reduce the risk of injury. Increased focus on health is also boosting demand for functional products such as food fortified with key vitamins and probiotics. Additionally, the growing use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs has created a market for related products which can help preserve lean muscle mass, manage digestion issues and ensure adequate micronutrient intake while consuming fewer calories. Companies like Nestlé and Herbalife have already launched GLP-1 companion products, and we expect to see more product ranges catering to GLP-1 users on the market in 2025.
