“Convergence of different technologies and knowledge to explore and open up new possibilities”

New materials and solid engineering practices can be the foundation for further developments in different fields, enabling endless new possibilities.

The foreseeable advances in these areas require a fusion of different fields of knowledge and various scientific disciplines. There are many examples already evident: convergence between cyber and physical system enable interaction between intelligence and our environment; the intersection between technology and biology creates new forms of life (albeit primitive), such as bacteria or biomass, that can perform essential tasks for the individual; furthermore, the convergence between technology and chemistry allows the study and intervention on genes to prevent hereditary diseases.

Also, cyber risks may be underestimated in this field, and proper defense has not been considered: consequences could be dangerous if those risks remain unattended.

These activities pose challenges and need a reasonable and intelligent public intervention, such as establishing new product quality regulations and safety limits.

At the same time, the public sector can take an even more active role in investing in new promising technologies (like Quantum Computing) to accelerate the build-up of assets and knowledge in basic research.

But more and more possibilities are already under development. For example, these technologies are essential for developing alternative energies like green fuels, “safe&clean” nuclear power, or innovation in the hydrogen cycle. Moreover, developments in these fields can be a powerful enabler of a “green and blue strategy” that most countries in Europe and worldwide are pursuing.