Countless revolutions are changing our lifestyles and transforming our work: whether they are digital, ecological, biotechnological, or even robotic… Many fields are being impacted by innovations that are evolving our economy and society, gradually constructing a radically different future. Which sectors are at the forefront of these historical dynamics?
- 3D Printing of Parts Amidst the flurry of innovations poised to radically change our economy, 3D printing is increasingly making waves. Most industrial sectors are affected by the ability to design and computer-command the printing of numerous parts, which can then be assembled. Earlier this year in 2015, astronauts aboard the International Space Station were able to print a mechanical tool in orbit, the schematics of which were sent to them via email from Earth’s surface: a feat with promising future prospects!
- On the Verge of Artificial Intelligence Another revolution is also underway in the realm of computing, through the constant progress towards the invention of artificial intelligence. All internet giants are working towards this: Google, Facebook, Amazon, as well as numerous laboratories worldwide (such as in Grenoble, France). Achieving a self-aware robot won’t be easy, as progress in this area is gradual. The magnitude of the changes brought about here can be measured by the fantasies and fears they generate: fundamental ethical questions will arise on the path of these innovations.
- Renewable Energies Conquering the World They are well-known, as they are subject to multiple expectations and hopes. But where there is solar electricity, there are also electric machines, which struggle to emerge in transportation. To rid itself of fossil fuels, American manufacturer Tesla has been able to design the most cost-effective and high-performance electric vehicles to date. Convinced of its economic model, its CEO, Elon Musk, even publicly offers its patents, with the idea of spawning competitors to reduce costs and encourage this emerging sector!
- Cooperative Finance to Support a Fairer Economy It’s a rapidly growing sector that isn’t often talked about, which is a shame. Because it aims to redistribute wealth in a more citizen-oriented manner through transparent management of banking activities. Represented in France by the “Crédit Coopératif” or the “Nef,” it involves investing clients’ money in activities that adhere to specific and well-known environmental and social requirements. Here, the client and their banker come together beyond the commercial relationship, in a joint commitment to support a sector of activity or a humanitarian association.
- Possibility of Living in Space Soon? SpaceX, Orbital Science, Boeing, Virgin Galactic, Sierra Nevada Corporation, EADS Astrium… The list of startups and companies investing in space has grown very long in recent years. The reduction in access costs to orbit is preparing a revolution in the medium term, which is talked about too little. Man in space is coming soon, and it won’t just be the concern of a few wealthy tourists. Elon Musk, also the president of SpaceX, claims he wants to establish a city of one million inhabitants on the planet Mars within two decades. An ambition that reflects the importance space will take in the coming years, from the colonization of Mars to asteroid mining..
