The World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Dubai Future Foundation, recently launched the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 report, which highlights several areas of priority for the years ahead – including advancing health and sustainability, deepening technological integration, continuing innovation, developing effective solutions, and ensuring societal infrastructure is equipped to scale these technologies and achieve their full impact.
Technologies featured in the report were selected based on their novelty, potential for significant societal impact, and ability to scale, with a focus on enabling faster adaptation to global change.
“The Top 10 Emerging Technologies report aims to equip governments, businesses and entrepreneurs with foresight on the most impactful scientific and technological breakthroughs expected to scale in the coming years,” said His Excellency Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, vice chairman of the board of trustees and managing director of Dubai Future Foundation.
Major opportunities to grow future-focused economic sectors
Al Gergawi said the rapid pace of technological change is unlocking major opportunities to grow future-focused economic sectors and help governments turn global shifts into meaningful societal value.
“Readiness for future technologies – and the capacity to apply their diverse use cases – has become a key benchmark for governments and the private sector in designing and building the future. We will continue to support active global partnerships and advancing research to anticipate emerging trends and technological opportunities,” he added.
This year marks the first time the report has included a foresight angle, which has been developed in collaboration with the Dubai Future Foundation, originally launched by the World Economic Forum in 2011 in collaboration with Frontiers, a leading open-access publisher in science, technology and medicine. More than 300 experts from the Global Future Council network participated in developing the report’s content.
Meanwhile, Dubai Future Foundation’s participation marks the first time an entity from the region contributed to the report. The foresight research perspective provided by the Dubai Future Foundation focused on exploring the long-term impact of the selected technologies, projecting the potential shifts that may result from their full-scale implementation, and helping stakeholders better understand how to apply these innovations to real-world challenges.
Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025
The technologies featured in the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 report include: green nitrogen fixation, GLP-1 receptor agonists for neurodegenerative diseases, osmotic power systems, collaborative sensing, nanozymes, autonomous biochemical sensing, advanced nuclear technologies, generative watermarking, engineered living therapeutics and structural battery composites.
Green nitrogen fixation
The report highlights the significance of green nitrogen fixation, which leverages renewable electricity and novel bio- or electrochemical processes to produce ammonia. Green nitrogen fixation aims to reduce the high carbon footprint of conventional ammonia production, essential for the global food supply.
Emerging methods use renewable energy, engineered microbes or lithium-based systems to produce ammonia more sustainably. While still early-stage, these innovations could localize production and decarbonize agriculture and shipping.
GLP-1s for neurogenerative disease
Second on the list of the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 is GLP-1 drugs, originally for diabetes and obesity, which show promise in treating Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s due to their neuroprotective effects.
Early studies suggest benefits like reduced brain inflammation and improved cell function. While results are encouraging, more clinical trials and regulatory steps are needed to confirm effectiveness and accessibility.
Osmotic power systems
Third comes osmotic power systems, which generate clean, steady energy from differences in water salinity using membranes. Recent advances in materials and design have revived this once-stalled technology. With pilot plants underway, osmotic power offers promise for sustainable electricity, water purification and resource recovery, pending further investment and cost reduction.
Collaborative sensing
Fourth on the list of the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 is collaborative sensing, which connects everyday sensors across homes, cities and vehicles into AI-powered intelligent networks. These systems enable real-time, shared decision-making for applications like traffic control, environmental monitoring and autonomous vehicles. Key challenges include data privacy, power constraints and developing multi-modal algorithms for seamless sensor integration.
Nanozymes
The report also features Nanozymes, which are synthetic nanomaterials that mimic natural enzymes, offering greater stability, lower costs and broader functionality. They’re advancing rapidly in medicine, particularly for cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in environmental cleanup and food safety. With a projected $57.95 billion market by 2034, commercialization is accelerating despite regulatory and technical hurdles.
Autonomous biochemical sensing
Autonomous biochemical sensors continuously detect health or environmental markers without human input, using wireless, self-powered systems. Enabled by advances in bioengineering and nanotech, they offer real-time monitoring for applications like glucose tracking or pollution detection. Key challenges include sensor lifespan, cost and regulatory concerns around engineered organisms.
Advanced nuclear technologies
Seventh on the list of the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 is advanced nuclear technologies. As energy demand surges, advanced nuclear technologies are gaining momentum. Innovations like small modular reactors (SMRs) and next-gen cooling systems promise safer, cheaper and scalable green energy. With global investment rising, fission leads near-term deployment while fusion remains a long-term goal for a zero-carbon energy future.
Generative AI watermarking
Meanwhile, generative AI watermarking embeds invisible markers in text, images, audio and video to verify authenticity and trace origins. As AI content proliferates, these technologies help combat misinformation and protect intellectual property. While adoption is growing, challenges like evasion, lack of standards and ethical concerns still need resolution.
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Engineered living therapeutics
Second to last on the list of the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 is engineered living therapeutics. Engineered living therapeutics are modified microbes or cells that produce drugs inside the body, offering targeted, sustained treatment with lower costs and fewer side effects.
Enabled by synthetic biology, this approach could transform chronic disease care. However, key challenges remain around safety, regulation and large-scale clinical approval.
Structural battery composites
Finally, structural battery composites (SBCs) combine energy storage and structural strength in a single material, reducing weight and improving efficiency in vehicles and aircraft. Though still emerging, SBCs offer major sustainability and cost benefits. Challenges remain in performance, safety and regulation before widespread adoption can be achieved.
