< Previous5 /9 4 /10 4 TRL /9 B IO-COMPATIBLE ELECTRONICS, which are in the Prototype Stage and early Productisation Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing new forms of computing platforms, electronics, and materials that are bio-compatible and can be embedded and integrated into biological tissue. Recent breakthroughs in the space include the development of the first bio-compatible transistors and Bio- Materials that can be embedded into the human brain without degrading over time or adversley affecting the patients tissue. DEFINITION Bio-Compatible Electronics are a class of electronics that are compatible with biological material and don’t corrode or degrade over time. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using Bio-Compatible Electronics to create better Brain Machine Interfaces for patients suffering from debilitating conditions such as ALS. In the future the primary use of this technology will be to enable the integration of technology into the human body either as a treatment, for example, of dementia, or as a form of Cyborg-like augmentation. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, primarily led by organisations in the Healthcare sector, with support from univesity grants. In time we will see the development of Bio-Compatible Electronics that don’t degrade and don’t have any negative impacts on organic tissue, at which point we will then be able to accelerate the development of a wide range of invasive devices and technologies that can be merged with the human body and organic tissue. That said though the technology will continue to face stringent regulator scrutiny which will slow down its adoption, but it is highly likely that in time all concerns, other than cultural concerns, will be successfully overcome. While Bio-Compatible Electronics are in the Prototype Stage and early Productisation Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Bio-Materials, Brain Machine Interfaces, Neuro-Prosthetics, Neuromorphic Computing, and Robotics, and potentially replaced by Biological Computing, and Biological Electronics. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 5 5 3 7 8 3 3 7 1972 1991 2002 2008 2033 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT BIO-COMPATIBLE ELECTRONICS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 240311institute.com MRL2 /9 6 /10 4 TRL /9 B IOLOGICAL ELECTRONICS, which are in the early Productisation Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing a new class of electronics that are biological in nature and biologically inspired. Recently there have been numerous breakthroughs in the space including the simplification of designing and manufacturing biological circuits, as well as new genetic tools to identify design errors and debug them. DEFINITION Biological Electronics are a class of electronics where biological based circuits and components replace and mimick the logical functions traditional electronic circuits. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using Biological Electronics and the principles underpinning them to develop basic biological circuits and the first rudimentary biological AI’s and neural networks. In the future the primary use of this technology will be to augment and replace existing traditional electronics where its practical to do so, and in time they could also be used to augment Biological Computing platforms and be merged with organic life to create hybrid lifeforms and new manufacturing paradigms. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, albeit from a very low base, primarily led by organisations in the Technology sector, with support from univesity grants. In time the technology will become mature and become easier to implement and integrate into new products and applications, however since it is biological by nature it will likely face increased regulator scrutiny before being green lighted for wide use. While Biological Electronics are in the early Productisation Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Biological Computing, Gene Editing, Stem Cells, and Synthetic Biology, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, and establish a point of view, and re-visit it every few years until progress in the space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 2 5 6 4 7 1 1 9 1985 1991 2003 2016 2052 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT BIOLOGICAL ELECTRONICS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, 23 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 241311institute.com MRL5 /9 7 /10 6 TRL /9 E DIBLE ELECTRONICS, which are in the Concept Stage and early Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing a new class of electronics that have a variety of use cases and that can be eaten and ingested without causing harm. Recent breakthroughs in the field include the development of basic Graphene based Edible Electronics that can be laser etched onto foods so their provenance can be tracked throughout their lifecycle before the consumer then eats them. DEFINITION Edible Electronics are a class of electronics that can be ingested safely without any negative consequences. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using Edible Electronics as a way to tag and track food throughout its lifecycle before being finally consumed by the customer. In the future the technology could be used across all food stuffs and combined with sensors to track everything from the foods provenance and location through to its nutritional value and freshness, additionally though the same principles can be applied to pharmaceutical drugs and many more use cases. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, albeit from a very low base, primarily led by organisations in the Retail sector, with support from univesity grants. In time we will see the technology mature to the point where it becomes ubiquitous and I don’t forsee many regulatory hurdles that would hamper adoption. While Edible Electronics are in the Concept Stage and early Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in 3D Printing, Materials, and Sensor technology, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 3 7 3 6 7 2 1 8 1997 2014 2018 2026 2038 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT EDIBLE ELECTRONICS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 242311institute.com MRL6 /9 3 /10 7 TRL /9 F LEXIBLE ELECTRONICS, which is still in the Prototype Stage and early Productisation Stage, is the development of electronics that can bend, flex and stretch without breaking, or loosing functionality, and as we continue to create new computing platforms that allow us to embed compute and intelligence into more products, from new flexible displays, gadgets, wearables, and even solar panels, to new fabrics and implanted medical devices, this will become increasingly important. DEFINITION Flexible Electronics use stretchable conductive materials laid on flexible substrates to produce circuits that can be twisted and stretched. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using Flexible Electronics to help us create flexible displays and smartphones, sensors, smart tattoos and wearables, that help us monitor patient health, and new implanted medical devices that can help reverse paralysis. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade research in the space will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow substantially as companies see the period of Wide Spread Adoption near. While Flexible Electronics is still in the Prototype Stage and early Productisation Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by Bio-Materials, Graphene, Polymers, Self-Healing Materials, Smart Materials and Spray On Materials, but not replaced. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, with a view to implementing it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 5 6 4 9 8 6 4 7 1996 2005 2015 2017 2034 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 FLEXIBLE ELECTRONICS EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 243311institute.com MRL2 /9 4 /10 4 TRL /9 L IQUID ELECTRONICS, which are in the Concept Stage and early Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing a new class of liquid based electronics. Recent brteakthroughs include the use of 3D Printing to develop micro-fluidic electronic channel products and devices that contained charged liquids which were then used to conduct electrical charges through liquid circuitry. DEFINITION Liquid Electronics are a class of electronics that use liquids to create and complete electrical circuits. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today Liquid Electronics are still in the experimental stage and researchers are using their prototypes to prove the theory and refine the technology. In the future the primary use case of the technology would include being able to embed liquid electronics and components into a wide range of products and objects, from Soft Robots and even to 3D Printed biological tissue where it could be combined with new classes of computing platforms such as Biological and DNA Computing platforms. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, albeit from a very low base, primarily led by univesity grants. In time as the technology matures more researchers in the field will discover viable and interesting use cases for it, and given the nature of the technology it’s unlikely to face particularly strict regulatory scrutiny which means that uptake and aoption could acceleate quickly. While Liquid Electronics are in the Concept Stage and early Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in 3D Printing, 3D Bio-Printing, 4D Bio-Printing, 4D Printing, Liquid Computing, and Materials, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, and establish a point of view, and re-visit it every few years until progress in the space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 2 6 6 5 8 1 1 9 2001 2004 2019 2041 2055 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT LIQUID ELECTRONICS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 244311institute.com MRL2 /9 6 /10 4 TRL /9 M OLECULAR ELECTRONICS, which are in the Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing a new class of electronics which, rather than using electronics and conventional circuits, uses molecules and molecular based circuits to fulfil much the same functions. Recently researchers have managed to make a number of breakthroughs that include finding new ways to manipulate and arrange molecules, and assign them new sophisticated properties, at a speed and scale never seen before for incredibly low cost. DEFINITION Molecular Electronics is the creation and use of molecules and molecular constructs with sophisticated properties to create a new class of electronics. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today researchers are using this technology to develop molecular based computer memory and storage systems that have 100 times the density of today’s top of the line systems. In the future this technology could form the foundation of an entirely new class of computing and open the door to a wide range of revolutionary new use cases that include the ability to embed compute, electronics, and intelligence into anything and everything irrespective of whether it is a solid object or a liquid based one. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Technology sector, with support from university grants. In time we will see this technology mature to the point where it is ready to be deployed, and it is highly likely that it will lead to the development of a new range of “Wet” electronics. While Molecular Electronics are in the Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in 3D Printing, Chemical Computing, Liquid Computing, Liquid Electronics, Molecular Computing, and Synthetic Molecules, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, and re-visit it every few years until progress in this space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 2 2 1 4 9 5 2 1 1982 1996 2019 2048 2062 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 MOLECULAR ELECTRONICS EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 245311institute.com MRL2 /9 8 /10 5 TRL /9 N EURO-ELECTRONICS, which are in the Prototype Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing new products that allow the human nervous system to fuse and interface directly with electronics and electronic components. Recently there have been a number of developments in the space which include the development of the first Biological-Artificial neurons and synapses which were able to communicate with one another over the internet, which could herald the age of the Internet of Neuro-Electronic “Things.” DEFINITION Neuro-Electronics is the interfacing of the biological neurons of the human nervous system with electronic devices. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today basic Neuro-Electronic devices are being used to provide therapeutic brain stimulation to monitor and treat neurological diseases such as epilepsy. In the future though they could be used to monitor and treat chronic pain, and a variety of other ailments including IBS and the effects of limb amputations, as well as be used to develop new bionic bodyparts, such as bionic eyes and ears, and even create the Internet of Neuro-Electronics which would see biological brains and nervous systems become nodes on the network in much the same way we do with Internet of Things technologies today. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Technology sector, with support from government funding and university grants. In time we will see the technology mature at which point there will be serious regulatory hurdles to overcome before it can be commercialised and sold. While Neuro-Electronics are in the Prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Artificial Intelligence, Bio-Compatible electronics and materials, Bioelectronic Medicine, Brain Machine Interfaces, Cyborgs, Memristors, Neuromorphic Computing, Neuro-Prosthetics, as well as Sensor technologies, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, and re-visit it every few years until progress in this space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 3 3 2 6 9 2 1 8 2005 2008 2020 2035 2049 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘21, ‘22, ‘23 NEURO-ELECTRONICS EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 246311institute.com MRL5 /9 7 /10 8 TRL /9 P RINTED ELECTRONICS, which is in the early Productisation Stage, is the field of research concerned with developing new ways to print electronics and electronic components, from Capacitors to PCB’s using a variety of manufacturing methods including 3D Printing. Recently there have been significant advances in being able to print an increasingly wide aray of electronics and electronic components, even including the printing of Edible Electronics and Liquid Electronics. DEFINITION Printed Electronics are a class of electronics that are printed using a range of different technologies and techniques. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today we are using Printed Electronics in only a narrow range of use cases including military use cases and certain consumer products such as cars, where companies are now 3D printing electric vehicles complete with embeded electronics, and food items where Graphene based electronic circuits are laser etched onto food so it can be tracked and monitored throughout their lifecycle. In the future the primary use cases for the technology will include the printing of almost any and all types of electronic circuits and components in all their forms, and advances in manufacturing technologies means that electronics will be able to be embedded and integrated into everyday objects very easily. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow, primarily led by organisations in the Manufacturing sector, with support from univesity grants. As manufacturing technologies improve in capability and speed in time we’ll be able to print increasingly complex electronic systems that are embedded and integrated into products in entirely new ways which will not only change global supply chains, but will also let us manufacture complete products in one single printing run. While Printed Electronics are in the early Productisation Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in 3D Printing, 3D Bio-Printing, 4D Printing, Materials, and Molecular Assemblers, but at this point in time it is not clear what they will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, experiment with it, and forecast out the potential implications of the technology. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 5 6 6 5 8 3 1 9 2002 2006 2014 2032 2037 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT PRINTED ELECTRONICS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 247311institute.com MRL3 /9 4 /10 4 TRL /9 Q UANTUM ELECTRONICS, which are in the Prototype Stage, is the area of research concerned with developing a new class of compute and electronics that can harness the power of Quantum Computers, which are hundreds of millions more powerful than today’s best computing technologies but that need to run near 0 Kelvin, at room temperature. Recently there have been a run of breakthroughs in the space including the development of the first Silicon based Quantum chip design, and the use of Quantum Dots to protect Qubits, the Quantum Computing equivalent of a conventional Binary bit, from the cold. DEFINITION Quantum Electronics is the area of physics dealing with the effects of quantum mechanics on the behaviour of electrons in matter. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today there are no commercial products available using this technology. In the future though this technology would bring the power of Quantum Computing to conventional style computing platforms and smart devices, as well as allow the creation of unhackable electronics systems. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade interest in the field will continue to accelerate, and interest and investment will continue to grow at an accelerating rate, primarily led by organisations in the Technology sector, with support from government funding and university grants. In time we will see the technology mature, albeit a way off at the moment, and there is a high likely hood that it could usurp and replace many of today’s conventional compute and electronics technologies. While Quantum Electronics are in the prototype Stage, over the long term they will be enhanced by advances in Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Quantum Dots, and Quantum Sensors, but at this point in time it is not clear what it will be replaced by. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, explore the field, establish a point of view, and re-visit it every few years until progress in this space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 2 3 2 5 9 4 3 8 1993 2002 2018 2046 2056 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 QUANTUM ELECTRONICS EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 248311institute.com MRL3 /9 7 /10 4 TRL /9 M RE-CONFIGURABLE ELECTRONICS, which are still in the Prototype Stage, is the field of electronics concerned with trying to create the next generation of adaptable electronics platforms capable of re-configuring their electronic circuits and pathways on the fly, in response to specific stimuli, in order to change their behaviours, capabilities, performance, and resiliency. While research in the field has been boosted recently by new advances in Materials, Memristors, Liquid Computing, Nanotechnology, and Self-Healing Electronics, to name but a few, today I am already seeing the emergence of the next generation of the technology emerging in the form of new Biological Electronic technologies that whose circuits and pathways are made from DNA and living matter. DEFINITION Reconfigurable Electronics can alter and re-route fixed and fluid electronic circuits and pathways dynamically in order to become more capable, performant or resilient. EXAMPLE USE CASES Today the first Re-Configurable Electronics prototypes are being used in very basic ways to test the theory that we can create viable electronic circuits and pathways capable of re- configuring themselves on the fly in response to certain stimuli. However, over time, and given the ubiquity of electronics the use cases of where this technology could be applied will be almost unlimited. FUTURE TRAJECTORY AND REPLACABILITY Over the next decade research in the field will continue to accelerate, albeit from a low base, and interest and investment will continue to grow, although it is highly likely that much of that investment will be in the form of aerospace, defence and government funding, and university grants. While Re-Configurable Electronics are still in the Prototype Stage, over the long term it will be replaced by the next generation of electronics, Biological Electronics. MATTHEW’S RECOMMENDATION In the short to medium term I suggest companies put the technology on their radars, and re-visit it every few years until progress in the space accelerates. 15 SECOND SUMMARY Accessibility Affordability Competition Demonstration Desirability Investment Regulation Viability 2 1 2 5 8 3 3 8 1986 2002 2008 2026 2040 STATUS PRIMARY GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS IMPACT RE-CONFIGURABLE ELECTRONICS STARBURST APPEARANCES: ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20, ‘21, ‘22, ‘23, ‘24 EXPLORE MORE. Click or scan me to learn more about this emerging tech. 249311institute.com MRLNext >