Latest news with #AnnualMeetingoftheNewChampions2025
IOL News
15 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
World facing 'most complex' situation in decades: WEF
President and CEO of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Borge Brende speaks during an interview with AFP ahead of the opening of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025 (AMNC25) in Tianjin on June 24, 2025. Image: Jade GAO / AFP The world is facing the "most complex" geopolitical situation seen in decades, the head of the World Economic Forum (WEF) told AFP Tuesday, warning that turmoil was "impacting global growth". "It is the most complex geopolitical and geo-economic backdrop we've seen in decades," WEF President and CEO Borge Brende said ahead of a meeting of the multilateral forum in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin. "If we are not able to revive growth again, we can unfortunately see a decade of lower growth," he warned. Officials including Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will attend this week's WEF meeting in the port city of Tianjin - known colloquially as the "Summer Davos". The meeting comes hard on the heels of the US' involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict and follows months in which the global economy has been battered by a tariff war launched by US President Donald Trump. This month, the World Bank cut its forecast for global growth this year from 2.7% to 2.3%, following a similar reduction by the International Monetary Fund. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Brende said it was still too soon to predict the impact of Trump's swingeing tariffs. It is "too early to say what these tariffs will end with because the negotiations are still ongoing", he said. "I think the jury is still out, but the traditional globalisation we saw is now changed into a different system," he said. "That is a new chapter... especially since trade was the engine of growth." Brende also warned mounting conflict could have a "very negative impact" on global growth. 'China matters' The WEF gathering in Tianjin comes at an uncertain juncture for the Chinese economy, which has struggled under a years-long property sector crisis and sluggish domestic spending. "China really does matter," Brende said, adding he expects the country to account for almost 30 percent of global growth this year. "China is pivoting its economy more towards digital trade, towards services and also now opening up for increasing domestic consumption -- something that is important," Brende said. Officials in Beijing have since late last year unveiled a string of aggressive measures including key rate cuts and cancellations of home purchasing restrictions. But many economists remain sceptical that the Chinese economy can achieve the government's official growth target for this year of around five percent. With the tumultuous trade war threatening shipments from the manufacturing powerhouse, Beijing is looking to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence as potential sources of future growth. "In the past, trade was the driver of growth, but you cannot exclude that new technologies including AI can... maybe replace the important role that trade had", Brende said.
Scoop
21 hours ago
- Science
- Scoop
From Safer Cities To Healthier Lives: The Top 10 Emerging Technologies Of 2025
Collaborative sensing, generative watermarking and batteries built into materials are among the ten breakthrough technologies to watch. All are expected to achieve real-world impact within 3-5 years, addressing risks from congestion, pollution, disease and climate stress. Innovations reflect four emerging trends: trust and safety, sustainable industry, human health, and energy-material convergence. For more information on the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025, visit and share on social media using the hashtag #amnc25, or #2025#. Tianjin, People's Republic of China, 24 June 2025 –As cities become more connected, collaborative sensing is enabling vehicles, traffic systems and emergency services to coordinate in real time – improving safety and easing congestion. This is just one of the World Economic Forum's Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 that is expected to deliver real-world impact within three to five years and address urgent global challenges. In collaboration with Frontiers, the report spotlights breakthrough technologies at their inflection point where scientific progress meets real-world application. Chosen for their novelty, maturity and potential to deliver meaningful societal benefit, they reflect advances in both innovation and resilience. This year's cohort reveals four key trends: trust and safety in a connected world, next-gen biotechnologies for health, redesigning industrial sustainability, and integrating energy and materials. 'Scientific and technological breakthroughs are advancing rapidly, even as the global environment for innovation grows more complex,' said Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director, World Economic Forum. 'The research provides top global leaders with a clear view of which technologies are approaching readiness, how they could solve the world's pressing problems and what's required to bring them to scale responsibly.' This year's list builds on past themes, reaffirming health, sustainability and urban resilience as top priorities. Technologies such as collaborative sensing, autonomous biochemical sensing and green nitrogen fixation demonstrate ongoing innovation in these fields where urgent challenges persist. They also signal growing momentum to develop scalable solutions to chronic disease, environmental impact and infrastructure strain. The report outlines what is needed to bring them to scale: investment, infrastructure, standards and responsible governance, and calls on business, government and the scientific community to collaborate to ensure their development serves the public good. This year's edition highlights a trend towards technology convergence. For example, structural battery composites combine energy with storage design, while engineered living therapeutics merge synthetic biology and precision medicine. Such integration signals a shift away from standalone innovations to more integrated systems-based solutions, reshaping what is possible. 'The path from breakthrough research to tangible societal progress depends on transparency, collaboration, and open science,' said Frederick Fenter, Chief Executive Editor, Frontiers. 'Together with the World Economic Forum, we have once again delivered trusted, evidence-based insights on emerging technologies that will shape a better future for all." The Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 Trust and safety in a connected world: 1. Collaborative Sensing Networks of connected sensors can help vehicles, cities and emergency services share information in real time. This can improve safety, reduce traffic and respond faster to crises. 2. Generative watermarking This technology adds invisible tags to AI-generated content, making it easier to tell what is real and what is not. It could help fight misinformation and protect trust online. Sustainable industry redesign: 3. Green nitrogen fixation New ways to make fertilizer using electricity instead of fossil fuels could cut pollution and carbon emissions. It also means a more sustainable way to grow food. 4. Nanozymes These lab-made materials act like natural enzymes, but are stronger, cheaper and easier to use. They could improve medical tests, clean up pollution and support safer manufacturing. Next-generation biotechnologies for health: 5. Engineered living therapeutics Scientists are developing new therapies using helpful bacteria that are carefully designed to deliver treatment from inside the body. This could make long-term care cheaper and more effective. 6. GLP-1s for neurodegenerative diseases Drugs originally used for diabetes and weight loss are now showing promise in slowing diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. These treatments could offer new hope where few options exist today. 7. Autonomous biochemical sensing These small, smart sensors can monitor health or environmental changes around the clock without needing wires or people to check them. They could help detect pollution or illness early, saving time and lives. Energy and material integration: 8. Structural battery composites Materials that store energy and support weight, like in cars or planes, can make electric vehicles lighter and more efficient. This helps reduce emissions and improve performance. 9. Osmotic power systems By capturing energy from where saltwater meets freshwater, these systems can produce clean electricity. They are a promising source of steady, low-impact power in coastal areas. 10. Advanced nuclear technologies New, smaller nuclear designs and alternative cooling systems offer safer, lower-cost clean energy. As energy demand grows with electrification and AI, these reactors could play a key role in building reliable, zero-carbon power systems. Each technology was evaluated through a rigorous process, including expert nominations, literature review, peer assessment and analysis of adoption conditions. The report also includes strategic outlooks, readiness assessments and pathways for real-world implementation. About the Top 10 Emerging Technologies Report Now in its 13th edition, the Top 10 Emerging Technologies report provides trusted foresight to help leaders navigate scientific and technological change. Drawing on the expertise of scientists, researchers and futurists, the report identifies ten innovations expected to scale within five years and deliver wide societal benefits. The 2025 report was produced in collaboration with Frontiers and selected through a global process involving over 300 experts from the World Economic Forum's Global Future Councils, the University and Research Network, the Frontiers editorial network, and co-chairs Mariette DiChristina and Bernard Meyerson. About the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025 The 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions will take place from 24 to 26 June 2025 in Tianjin, People's Republic of China, under the theme 'Entrepreneurship for a New Era'. The meeting will convene over 1,700 leaders from business, government, civil society, academia, international organizations, innovation and media to explore entrepreneurial solutions to global challenges.
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
World Economic Forum Announces 2025 Technology Pioneers Leading New Wave Of Global Innovation
The World Economic Forum selects 100 start-ups from 28 countries to join its Technology Pioneers community. The new cohort marks a global surge of emerging technologies, from smart robotics and spatial AI to flying taxis and scalable quantum solutions. Now in its 25th year, the community has recognized over 1,200 start-ups that have gone on to transform industries and societies worldwide. Geneva, Switzerland, 23 June 2025 – The World Economic Forum today announces the 2025 cohort of its Technology Pioneers community, a group of 100 early-stage companies from 28 countries driving innovation across industries and borders. Now in its 25th year, the programme celebrates its strongest cohort yet, marked by broader geographical representation, greater diversity beyond Silicon Valley and the rise of more ambitious frontier technologies. Reflecting wider shifts in the innovation landscape, many of the companies spotlighted are using artificial intelligence (AI) to reach greater scale and sophistication with fewer resources. Several are venturing into less explored frontiers – from asteroid mining and flying electric taxis, to leveraging satellite imagery to transform agriculture and harnessing energy from supernova explosions to locate critical minerals beneath the Earth's surface. The geography of innovation is also evolving. While the United States remains the top contributor to the community, Europe's share has surged to 28% – up from 20% last year – reflecting the rise of strong tech ecosystems across the region. China and India are also emerging as major tech innovation hubs. 'There has never been a more exciting time to dive headfirst into tech innovation. But no one gets far alone – you need a community to move your mission forward,' said Verena Kuhn, Head of Innovator Communities, World Economic Forum. 'As we mark 25 years of the Technology Pioneers programme, this global community continues to connect start-ups to the networks and ecosystems they need to scale.' This year also marks the 25th Anniversary of the Technology Pioneers programme. Since its inception in 2000, the community has championed early-stage innovation and recognized more than 1,200 companies, many of which have gone on to reshape industries worldwide. Alumni include household names such as Google, PayPal, Dropbox and SoundCloud, underscoring the community's role as a launchpad for ideas and impact. The 2025 cohort stands out for its concentration of companies developing breakthrough technologies to address pressing global challenges. These include advanced robotics, customisable space launch services, micro nuclear reactors and more accessible quantum computing applications. These pioneers will contribute cutting-edge insights to Forum initiatives over a two-year engagement programme and will also be invited to participate in the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025, taking place on 24-26 June in Tianjin, People's Republic of China. The 2025 Technology Pioneers include: Australia • Cauldron – Commercializing advanced continuous fermentation technology to unlock price parity for mainstream bio-manufactured goods. Brazil • Brain4care – Using AI-based technology to enable timely medical interventions for patients with neurological conditions. Canada • Ideon Technologies – Harnessing the energy from supernova explosions in space to image deep beneath the Earth's surface, transforming how mining companies recover critical minerals. • Miru – Developing dynamic electrochromic windows that deliver high functionality, experience and energy efficiency for the automotive, transportation and architectural sectors. Greater China • Deep Principle – Integrating advanced AI models and quantum chemistry to accelerate the discovery and development of chemical materials. • GS Biomats – Developing furan bio-based material, a renewable alternative to petroleum-based chemicals, for various uses including biomedical applications. • HiNa Battery – Producing more sustainable, high-performance, low-cost sodium-ion batteries. • KaiOS – Providing affordable internet and access to financial services to unserved populations, primarily in South Asia and Africa. • Lightstandard – Making large language model computing faster and more energy-efficient with photonic computing. • Noematrix – Focusing on researching and developing embodied intelligence systems and related tools and platforms, which are compatible with diverse hardware. • Novlead – Designing a molecular technology platform providing available, accessible and affordable nitric oxide solutions for major clinical needs. • Shengshu Technology – Building generative AI infrastructure that develops native multi-modal large models such as images, 3D and video. • TRANSTREAMS – Engineering chips and solutions to address the computing power shortages in China during the era of AI-generated content. • Turing – Providing cutting-edge computing infrastructure and comprehensive AI solutions to drive the future of intelligent computing. Colombia • Plurall – Supporting early-stage entrepreneurs in emerging markets with fast, accessible working capital and digital payment solutions, leveraging AI models for risk assessment, collections and embedded lending. Denmark • Arcadia eFuels – Developing and deploying technology to produce electro-sustainable aviation and diesel fuels using renewable electricity, seawater, and captured CO2. Egypt • Thndr – Offering a digital investment platform with a range of flexible funding methods and educational resources to empower investors. France • Ascendance Flight Technologies – Decarbonizing aviation with a hybrid electric propulsion system and hybrid vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft. • Beyond Aero – Building the first electric business aircraft powered by hydrogen propulsion, as a sustainable alternative to traditional business jets. • CO2 AI – Helping large and complex organizations measure their environmental impact, identify credible levers and decarbonize at scale through AI. • Jimmy – Developing a micro nuclear reactor to provide carbon-free, competitive heat for industrial processes. • Nabla – Reducing clinician burnout by automating clinical documentation with AI. • Orakl Oncology – Creating a biology and AI-powered simulation platform to revolutionize oncology drug development. • Phagos – Deploying a sustainable alternative to antibiotics using bacteriophages and AI • Quobly – Making scalable, cost-competitive, large-scale quantum computers. • Sweetch Energy – Enabling osmotic power generation by harnessing the salinity gradient between freshwater and seawater. Germany • Accure – Providing predictive battery analytics software to enhance safety, optimize performance and extend the lifetime of battery systems. • Black Forest Labs – Building generative deep learning models for media, particularly images and videos • eleQtron – Developing quantum computers by leveraging trapped-ion technology. • Tozero – Pioneering the delivery of recycled lithium in Europe by sustainably recovering critical materials from battery waste. India • Agnikul – Providing affordable and customizable space launch services. • CynLr – Building robots with intuitive vision and enabling manufacturers and logistics providers to build fully automated factories. • Dezy – Leveraging AI-powered diagnostic technology to build affordable and accessible dental care. • Digantara – Providing crucial operational support to commercial space operators and space surveillance intelligence to global space agencies. • Equal – Providing an integrated solution that combines identity verification with consent-driven financial data sharing. • Exponent Energy – Making 15-minute rapid charging for electric vehicles affordable and scalable through an innovative battery management system, charging algorithms, thermal management and a charging network. • Freight Tiger – Building India's largest software-enabled freight network to help businesses move goods with full visibility, efficiency and lower costs. • GalaxEye – Creating a comprehensive, multi-sensor Earth observation system. • SolarSquare – Helping homes switch to solar in India with its full-stack solar panel systems. • The ePlane Co. – Developing flying electric taxis designed for intra-city transportation. Ireland • Equal1 – Democratizing quantum computing by leveraging existing semiconductor technologies. Israel • Fermata – Providing computer vision solutions for farmers to reduce crop losses and pesticide use. • Illumex – Empowering organizations to run governed and reliable AI agents through unified business data language and to democratize data access to every user. • LightSolver – Building a photonic supercomputer by harnessing the power of coupled lasers. • NanoSynex – Offering a rapid and accurate diagnostic platform for bacterial resistance. • ZutaCore – Developing waterless direct-to-chip liquid cooling for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) data centres. Italy • Arsenale Bioyards – Building new lab-to-production infrastructure enabling fast, low-cost biomanufacturing at an industrial scale. Japan • Sagri – Leveraging satellite data and AI to transform agriculture through land use optimization and sustainability. Republic of Korea • Hylium Industries – Providing safe and innovative liquid hydrogen solutions for carbon-free mobility. • NARA Space – Building South Korea's first microsatellite constellation for methane point source detection. • Robocon – Developing robotics and smart factory solutions for the construction and steel industries. Luxembourg • Tokeny Solutions – Building the compliance infrastructure for digital assets in blockchain and fintech. Mexico • Allie – Creating closed-loop optimization systems for manufacturing that autonomously adjust production parameters in real time. Nigeria • Cybervergent – Providing a platform to automate cybersecurity compliance and risk governance. • Sabi – Powering the sourcing and distribution of physical goods and critical commodities in Africa. • ThriveAgric – Empowering smallholder farmers across Africa by linking them to finance, data-driven best practices, and access to local and global markets. Saudi Arabia • Intelmatix – Making enterprise AI accessible through industry-specific, context-aware AI agents. Singapore • Manus – Automating a wide range of practical tasks for personal and professional use with a general AI agent. • Rize – Decarbonizing rice cultivation in Asia through scalable agricultural innovations. Spain • Crisalion Mobility – Offering sustainable air and ground mobility solutions. • INBRAIN Neuroelectronics – Developing brain-computer interfaces to treat neurological disorders. Sweden • Graphmatech – Developing advanced materials infused with graphene to make large-scale industries more innovative and resource efficient. • Lovable – Using AI to help users create software and web apps without coding expertise. Switzerland • HAYA Therapeutics – Developing RNA-based medicines to treat heart, lung and tissue diseases. • Neural Concept – Accelerating product design through 3D generative engineering and AI. Uganda • Numida – Using credit models and digital underwriting to provide loans to micro businesses. Ukraine • Respeecher – Enabling scalable voice cloning across languages and contexts. United Kingdom • CuspAI – Using frontier AI to accelerate the discovery and development of materials with specific functionalities. • Obrizum – Offering personalized digital learning services at scale through an AI-powered platform. • Oxford Ionics – Building high-performance quantum computers using trapped-ion technology. United States • Ammobia –Fuelling the world with cost-effective, lower-carbon ammonia production. • Archetype AI – Pioneering a new form of Physical AI capable of perceiving, understanding and reasoning about the world through analysing real-time, multimodal sensor data. • Arine – Integrating cutting-edge AI, clinical expertise and advanced data analytics to deliver medication-based care interventions at the population level. • AstroForge – Making critical minerals more accessible to humanity by mining asteroids. • BforeAI - Using behavioural AI to predict and automatically pre-empt malicious campaigns and stop cyberattacks before they occur. • Candidly – Developing an AI-powered platform to help borrowers manage and overcome educational loans. • Claryo – Helping warehouse operators maximize operational efficiency by leveraging spatial generative AI. • Distyl AI – Enabling enterprises to seamlessly integrate AI agents into operations. • Emvolon – Converting methane emissions into carbon-negative fuels for hard-to-abate sectors onsite. • Exowatt – Delivers solar power on demand by storing energy and converting it into electricity as needed, helping data centres and the grid run on clean energy 24/7. • Foundation Alloy – Commercializing solid-state metals technology to make higher performance metals using less energy. • HAIQU – Developing a new application execution stack for all modalities of near-term quantum computers. • Hertha Metals – Developing technology to decarbonize primary steel production. • Hyfe – 'Turns food processing waste into chemicals that replace petroleum in everyday goods'. • Lumu Technologies – Providing cybersecurity operations capabilities to help businesses control the impact of cybercrime. • One Bio – Using biotechnology to add anti-inflammatory plant-based fibres to everyday foods. • Oberon Fuels – Developing innovative carbon-neutral fuels for maritime, propane, and hydrogen sectors. • Osmo – Combining frontier AI and olfactory science to digitize scent and enhance well-being. • Outtake – Securing digital identities by detecting and removing harmful AI-generated content. • Parallel Learning – Providing licensed therapy and instruction to students with learning differences through a digital platform. • Pavilion – Increasing efficiency in US public procurement with an AI-enabled government marketplace. • Reality Defender – Offering multimodal detection of AI-generated media to prevent fraud and disinformation. • RoboForce – Building AI-powered robotic systems designed for high-risk or repetitive work, to enhance efficiency, productivity and safety across industries. • Rubi Laboratories – Using biocatalysis to transform CO2 into essential materials like cellulose. • Shiru – Leveraging AI to identify and develop naturally occurring functional ingredients. • Starcloud – Constructing data centres in space to solve the AI energy challenge. • Waterplan – Delivering an AI-powered platform to measure, manage and mitigate water risk. • Workera – Providing AI-driven workforce skills intelligence and upskilling pathways. • Workhelix – Helping companies identify AI transformation opportunities and measure return on investment. Uruguay • Prometeo – Creating a single, borderless banking application programming interface to connect companies with financial institutions across the Americas About the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025 The 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions will take place from 24 to 26 June 2025 in Tianjin, People's Republic of China, under the theme 'Entrepreneurship for a New Era.' The meeting will convene over 1,700 leaders from business, government, civil society, academia, international organizations, innovation and media to explore entrepreneurial solutions to global challenges. About the Technology Pioneers Launched in 2000, the Technology Pioneers community marks its 25th anniversary in 2025 as a leading platform for early-stage companies from around the world that are shaping the future through breakthrough technologies and innovations. These companies are selected for their potential to have a significant impact on business and society and are invited to engage with public and private sector leaders through the World Economic Forum's global platform. The Technology Pioneers community is part of the Innovator Communities within the Forum's Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Innovator Communities convene the world's leading global start-ups across different growth stages from early-stage Technology Pioneers to growth-stage Global Innovators and unicorn companies valued at more than $1 billion.
