Global Scans · Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

• [New] Industrial decarbonization and green fuel investments drive hydrogen production applications to experience their fastest growth rate through 2035. Transpire Insight
• [New] By 2026, AI will no longer be a novel innovation in the experimentation stage. Aralia Education
• [New] The Russia-Ukraine energy crisis demonstrated how imported natural gas dependence creates financial and industrial dangers which particularly affect energy-intensive industries that include chemicals production, steel manufacturing, and advanced manufacturing processes. Transpire Insight
• [New] South Korea: Demand for frictionless retail technologies in South Korea is forecast to expand at 19.4% CAGR through 2036, supported by advanced smart retail infrastructure, strong digital payment adoption, AI-enabled customer analytics, and growing deployment of autonomous convenience stores. FactMr
• [New] Demand for frictionless retail infrastructure solutions is projected to grow to USD 12.3 billion in 2026 and reach USD 83.0 billion by 2036. FactMr
• [New] A major focus area in 2026 will be India's growing leadership in artificial intelligence, including discussions around indigenous AI infrastructure, language models, AI-native enterprises, and strategic technology capabilities. Machine Maker - Latest Manufacturing News | Indian Manu
• [New] The summit agenda will focus on sectors shaping India's future innovation landscape including artificial intelligence, DeepTech, biotechnology, quantum computing, space technologies, D2C brands, and Bharat-focused innovation models. Machine Maker - Latest Manufacturing News | Indian Manu
• [New] Europe's electric vehicle industry has already committed more than €200 billion (£171 billion) to factories, batteries and charging infrastructure, even as politicians debate weakening the EU's 2035 petrol and diesel car ban. ""
• [New] The ADB has launched a $70bn programme to expand energy and digital infrastructure across Asia-Pacific by 2035. TEAM LEWIS UK | London
• [New] By 2030, data centers will require US$ 6.7 trillion of capex globally, with US$ 5.2 trillion for AI capable capacity, shifting an increasing share of digital infrastructure spend into the compute layer (GPUs / servers etc.), where refresh cycles are shorter than the underlying real estate and power. Clifford Chance
• [New] Defence infrastructure spending, Cybersecurity infrastructure upgrades, transportation resilience investments, and energy security initiatives may create future long-term opportunities for global engineering companies including WSP Global. Kalkine
• [New] With Middle East conflicts already driving up shipping insurance premiums, adding around a million dollars in fuel costs per voyage and sending freight rates soaring, shipping industry leaders warn that any major resurgence in piracy could push costs even higher and further disrupt global trade. Hiiraan Online
• [New] Within the next two years, 97% of surveyed organizations expect to run AI application workloads across on-premises or cloud infrastructure, and few believe their tools are ready to manage networks for AI. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Regions that align policy, capital, infrastructure, and industrial delivery will be well-positioned in emerging low-carbon markets to secure a durable, competitive position globally. Guidehouse
• [New] The increasing need for climate-resilient infrastructure to buffer against the incoming volatility of conflict and climate interlinkages is already driving 2026 green bond deployment and cargo war risk insurance. ORF Middle East
• [New] Cisco Systems said it will cut nearly 4,000 jobs as part of a restructuring aimed at shifting more investment into AI infrastructure, silicon, optics, and security. Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] The largest variations in projected U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions across cases occur in the electric power, transportation, and industrial sectors. EIA - Energy Information Administration
• [New] By 2026, innovations in the trucking industry will have the efficiency of your average German airport - and you know how they are about order. Gadget Review
• [New] The US Defence Innovation Unit is seeking technology to counter unmanned underwater vehicle threats. Mirage News
• [New] By 2030, electric vehicles are expected to be no longer a niche alternative, but a core direction of the global car industry, reshaping manufacturing, energy systems and consumer expectations. heycar
• [New] With the UK EV fleet expected to grow sharply by 2030, continued investment in rapid and ultra-rapid charging infrastructure will be essential. heycar
• [New] Digital air traffic management platforms enabling simultaneous dense eVTOL operations across urban airspace in UK will be a critical infrastructure enabler that regulatory authorities and technology developers are actively developing in parallel with aircraft certification programs. Mobility Foresights
• [New] Government urban air mobility development programs, designated UAM corridor investments, and smart city infrastructure initiatives in UK are providing institutional investment that de-risks private sector eVTOL ecosystem development. Mobility Foresights

Last updated: 17 May 2026