The Top 10 Emerging Technologies for 2026

Updated at: June 26, 2026 at 12:15 AM

The 2026 report on the Top 10 Emerging Technologies, co-published by the World Economic Forum and Frontiers, signals a major transition in global innovation.

nounreport

verbsignal

nouninnovation

While previous years were dominated by software and generative AI, the current focus has shifted toward physical systems that power our economy, including medicine, energy, and infrastructure.

verbshift

This movement, often described as the 'physical-digital blur,' highlights how innovation is actively reshaping factories, power grids, and hospitals.

nouninnovation

adverbactively

nounfactory

From Everything-to-grid energy—which turns buildings and vehicles into power storage units—to personalized mRNA cancer vaccines that target individual tumor cells, these technologies are moving from research labs into real-world applications.

nounvaccine

Other breakthroughs, like PFAS destruction to clean water supplies and direct lithium extraction for better batteries, emphasize efficiency and environmental sustainability.

verbclean

The selection of these ten technologies, ranging from quantum simulation to lattice-based cryptography, is based on their potential to reach commercial scale within the next few years.

nounpotential

As these innovations move toward society, the report notes that success depends on infrastructure, public policy, and maintaining trust, ultimately promising a future where technology delivers more efficient, decentralized, and personalized solutions for everyone.

nounreport

verbpromise

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End of article

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Comprehension Questions

What is the primary shift in the focus of emerging technologies in 2026?

A focus exclusively on social media platform development.

A pivot toward physical systems like energy, medicine, and infrastructure.

A total rejection of artificial intelligence in all sectors.

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

A pivot toward physical systems like energy, medicine, and infrastructure.

What is the function of 'Everything-to-grid' energy?

It completely eliminates the need for any electrical storage systems.

It enables buildings, vehicles, and factories to store and supply electricity back to the grid.

It focuses solely on generating power from solar panels in space.

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

It enables buildings, vehicles, and factories to store and supply electricity back to the grid.

What defines the 'physical-digital blur' mentioned in the report?

The idea that technology impact is no longer confined to screens but is reshaping the physical world.

The inability of computers to process physical world data.

The transition of all physical work into virtual reality environments.

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

The idea that technology impact is no longer confined to screens but is reshaping the physical world.

What is a primary goal of personalized mRNA cancer vaccines?

To mass-produce a single vaccine that cures all known viral infections.

To remove the need for a human immune system in fighting disease.

To train a patient’s immune system to identify and destroy their specific tumor cells.

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

To train a patient’s immune system to identify and destroy their specific tumor cells.

According to the report, what is essential for the successful adoption of these new technologies?

Infrastructure development, timely public policy, and public trust.

Strict bans on all private investment in scientific research.

The total replacement of all current government infrastructure.

Reveal Answer

✓

Correct Choice

Infrastructure development, timely public policy, and public trust.

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