A report on the top ten emerging technologies globally was unveiled on Tuesday during the 2026 Summer Davos forum in northeast China's Dalian City.
Co-published by the World Economic Forum and research publisher Frontiers, the report identifies key technologies most likely to shape industry, policy and society over the next five years.
According to the report titled "Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2026," the technologies with the largest impact are moving off screens and into the physical systems that underpin modern economies, including energy, medicine, food and materials.
These technologies range from next-generation clean energy, advanced materials and biotechnology to AI and quantum technologies.
"[They] actually rely on physical systems. They rely on things about mining, about food security, about individual health. I think this is also something which is an important trend in the selection of this year's technologies," said Frederick Fenter, chief executive editor of Frontiers, a research journal publisher that covers emerging technologies.
WEF officials also noted that China, with its complete industrial chain, will continue to be an important pillar driving the development of these technologies through its growing global partnerships.
"In China, things move very quickly from prototype, experimentation, from ideation to large-scale implementation. In fact, 70 percent of the businesses that are coming to Dalian this year are actually international businesses, who are eager not just to partner with China on its manufacturing capabilities but also on its innovation machinery," said Gim Huay Neo, Chair of Greater China for the World Economic Forum.
Top 10 emerging technologies for 2026 unveiled at Summer Davos forum
