10 Megatrends shaping our future: Part 2
In the first part of this series, we delved into the megatrends envisioned by Frost & Sullivan's experts, painting a picture of the world in 2040. Their report highlights 10 transformative trends poised to redefine industries, societies, and the ways we operate. Previously, we explored the first five megatrends; now, we turn our attention to the remaining five.
6. Virtual societies
By 2040, Frost & Sullivan predicts the metaverse will become an inseparable part of daily life. Personal data will evolve into a valuable resource, offering individuals new avenues to earn income. Maybe in the future people will monetize their personal information for commercial purposes within virtual societies. However, this raises significant concerns about privacy, data misuse, and the emergence of surveillance-driven societies.
7. Expanding carbon-negative economy
The pursuit of carbon neutrality is giving way to a more ambitious goal: carbon negativity. Through innovative technologies, we’ll actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Carbon markets will grow as attractive investment opportunities, incorporating broader dimensions of sustainability, such as labor policies. While these changes offer vast business potential, they also place increasing pressure on companies to act responsibly.
8. Ecoclarity and ecoaccountability
With growing standardization and abundant data, measuring and analyzing environmental impacts will become easier than ever. By 2040, consumers will demand complete transparency from companies regarding environmental footprints and ethical practices. Sustainable consumption will be the new norm, with consumers expecting detailed information on everything from raw materials to recyclability.
9. Limitless clean energy
Breakthroughs in zero-emission energy sources like green hydrogen and fusion technology will be critical in meeting global energy demands without fossil fuels. By 2040, wealthier nations will have transitioned primarily to clean energy, replacing both fossil fuels and traditional nuclear power. Companies will play a key role in driving adoption in developing economies, reducing energy poverty through infrastructure investments. Green hydrogen costs are projected to drop by 72 %, while nuclear energy output is expected to reach 500,000 megawatts by 2030. Additionally, over 330 million electric vehicles will dominate roads in advanced economies by 2040.
10. Distributed governance
Trust and power will shift away from traditional institutions toward personal networks and virtual communities. Confidence in governments may decline, while decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) — collectively owned and managed entities without traditional hierarchies — will become more common. Consumers will favor independent channels with clear policies to ensure corporate reliability and ethical conduct.
Next steps forward
These 10 megatrends illuminate a rapidly changing world — technologically, socially, and environmentally. While these shifts bring opportunities, they also pose challenges. Thriving in this evolving landscape requires adaptability, innovation, and bold action. To help navigate these changes, Frost & Sullivan offers some next steps forward for companies:
Identify your business challenge: Pinpoint areas where digitalization and sustainability can drive your business forward.
Set up a learning management framework: Ensure your workforce is equipped with the skills needed to succeed now and in the future. Develop systems that support continuous learning in both existing and emerging domains.
Draw up a clear transformation roadmap: Outline and prioritize the tools, technologies, and applications necessary to enable transformation.
Enable or integrate into an ecosystem: Position yourself within the evolving landscape by forging valuable partnerships and collaborating with technology experts.
Pilot, scale and build knowledge: Conduct small-scale trials of new technologies before full-scale implementation, building a knowledge base for future innovations.
Researcher, did you know that the University of Oulu has a campus license for Frost & Sullivan’s market intelligence database? This means you can access high-value reports free of charge! Leverage these resources for EU or Business Finland funding applications to demonstrate market potential and the need for your solution.