World Economic Forum and Frontiers Identify Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2026
The World Economic Forum, in collaboration with the scientific publisher Frontiers, has released its annual list of the Top 10 Emerging Technologies for 2026. Unlike recent years dominated by AI developments, this year's report emphasizes technologies designed for physical infrastructure—factories, hospitals, and power grids.
The focus marks a notable pivot in how emerging technologies are being conceptualized and prioritized. Rather than software-driven advances primarily in data processing and machine learning, the 2026 list spotlights innovations aimed at tangible, real-world systems that support critical infrastructure.
Manufacturing facilities, healthcare institutions, and electrical power networks represent the core sectors where these emerging technologies are expected to have the greatest impact. The report suggests this shift reflects growing interest in technologies that address practical, physical challenges rather than purely digital applications.
The collaboration between the World Economic Forum, known for its global economic and technology policy discussions, and Frontiers, an open-access scientific publisher, brings together policy perspectives and peer-reviewed research in identifying these technologies.