Technologies

As ICT and digital technologies are among the main drivers of innovation, it is essential to understand their internal dynamics and the ways in which they relate to leading science-driven innovation industries such as nanotechnology, energy and clean-techs.
In particular, ICT will play a primary role in the current movement towards a low carbon, sustainable era:

• by supplying the technologies that will enable more efficient energy use (in motor systems, logistics, transportation, buildings and electricity grids);
• by decarbonising its own high-carbon footprint (via smart ICT);
• by acting as a unique “facilitator” of the creation and spread of new scientific knowledge and sustainable cultural models;
• by narrowing the information divide and allowing people access to decision making.

Given the very wide scope of this section, we have decided not to track and detail the various technologies per se, but rather as enabling factors of the four corners of the THINK! diamond  (see Innovation Map).