By Tricia Martinez, Managing Director of the Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator

The global population continues to grow, and with it our planet faces significant threats to keep up with the rising demands of society and industry. Climate change, food security, natural resource management, connectivity, infectious disease, data privacy, and security are global challenges that we are up against. As Managing Director of Techstars Industries of the Future Accelerator I am eager to find, support, and nurture the breakthrough technologies that have the potential to change our world. Novel technologies will power the fight against our world’s greatest challenges creating more equity, efficiencies, sustainable practices, and entirely new markets. 

For our 2022 Industries of the Future program I will be focusing on the 6 major industries that have the potential to solve the most pressing issues of our time: artificial intelligence, cleantech, quantum information science, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and 5G/advanced wireless technology. 

Artificial Intelligence

AI (artificial intelligence) technologies enable computers or machines to exhibit human-like intelligence including problem solving and adapting. From machine learning to deep learning, AI has immense potential to disrupt present and future industries and take our society to new places given its ability to learn and calculate at incredible speed. Using AI to monitor carbon emissions, manage natural resources, reduce pollution, predict weather, and track renewable assets are just a few of the possibilities that excite me!

Areas of interest:

• Sensors

• Predictive analytics

• Robotics process automation

• Autonomous vehicles

• Weather modeling

• Infrastructure management and security

• Energy storage automation

• Carbon monitoring 

Cleantech

Climate change is the single greatest problem of our time and mitigating and eliminating it requires novel technologies, systems, and processes that reduce environmental damage, drive more energy efficiency, manage the sustainable use of resources, and protect our environment. Not every technology will be a winner, but we need to build and test everything we can at incredible rates if we are to win this battle.

Areas of interest:

• Autonomous grid management systems

• Renewable energy technologies

• Carbon capture and storage

• Nuclear energy

• Batteries and storage

• Green transportation

• Energy market trading

Quantum Information Science

More powerful computing, more accurate healthcare imaging, navigation systems through GPS, more trusted and secure communications. Through quantum technology, computers can acquire, transmit, and process more information addressing some of our world's most pressing issues. Quantum is truly the future of our technology world and while some concepts are in very early stages, backing breakthrough quantum concepts with exceptional teams is my top priority to advance this field.

Areas of interest:

• Secure communications

• Quantum machine learning

• Healthcare and drug discovery

• Optimization and forecasting

• Physical qubits

Advanced Manufacturing

Cutting edge technologies that reinvent traditional manufacturing processes and systems to produce superior products. This includes any novel device or system as well as building with more green and energy efficient practices. From reducing waste to saving time and money to creating more innovative products, advanced manufacturing will impact all industries in the world and how we consume. 

Areas of interest:

• Augmented reality and virtual reality

• Robotics and machine vision

• Industrial IoT

• Additive manufacturing equipment

Biotechnology

Technologies that develop new breakthrough products through the use of living systems and organisms. From pharmaceuticals to agriculture to biofuels, biotechnology will be far reaching across industries and address some of the world’s greatest challenges. As our world changes we will be called to address issues of feeding larger populations, new and growing disease, and depleted resources. Biotechnology will support in addressing these challenges. 

Areas of interest:

• Synthetic biology 

• Life sciences 

• Digital health therapeutics 

5G/Advanced Wireless Technology

5G technology is the fifth generation of wireless technology that will drastically improve speed, efficiency, and connectivity paving the way for smart cities, autonomous vehicles, industrial IoT, and more. In the not so distant future, we will all be living in smart connected cities where our homes, cars, and devices will all be in communication, and all of that can only happen with the advancement of 5G. 

Areas of interest:

• Internet of things

• Sensors 

• Smart cities/ smart factories

• Vehicle communications

The opportunities are endless for these technologies. They will define our future and the companies building these solutions need all the support, nurturing, and cheerleading they can receive. If you or someone you know is building a breakthrough technology that has the potential to change the world send them my way!

Read More