Article
Predicting the Industries of the Future
The industries of the future are hidden in plain sight Predicting the industries of the future used to be hit and miss but with the right insights predicting them has never been easier.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2016) 'Predicting the Industries of the Future', 311 Institute, 4 May. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/predicting-the-industries-of-the-future/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
The industries of the future are hidden in plain sight
Predicting the industries of the future used to be hit and miss but with the right insights predicting them has never been easier. On the back of our 2016 Griffin Emerging Technology Review we delve into the data and pull out our top three predictions.
What this means for your organisation
Signals are already visible.
Future industries tend to grow from technologies and trends we can see now. The skill is joining the dots. Strategy teams should scan systematically, not wait for headlines.
Industries can collapse fast.
New sectors often grow at the expense of old ones. Rivals can come from outside a firm's own field. Leaders should watch adjacent industries as closely as their own.
Timing matters.
Moving too late can mean missing the window entirely. Early, small bets keep options open. Boards should fund exploration before the market is obvious.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which visible signals point to new industries near ours?
- Could a rival from another sector disrupt us?
- Are we funding small bets on emerging industries?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
The industries of the future are hidden in plain sight Predicting the industries of the future used to be hit and miss but with the right insights predicting them has never been easier.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
What future do you need to see?
Choose one to get started on articles and the future of your organisation.
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 4 May 2016. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2016). Predicting the Industries of the Future. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/predicting-the-industries-of-the-future/
You are welcome to quote this article with credit and a link to the original.