10 World-Changing Investment Themes

The world is changing rapidly, and with it, the investment landscape. New technologies and trends are emerging all the time, with the potential to disrupt entire industries and create new ones.

Here are 10 world-changing investment themes that have the potential to change the world as we know it.

1. Energy transition to 100% renewables

The transition to renewable energy is one of the most important challenges facing the world today. The EU’s target to cover its energy needs by 2050 fully with renewables is within grasp. Unsurprisingly, this transition is already creating a lot of new opportunities for investors in a variety of sectors, including solar and wind power, battery storage, and smart grid technologies. Read more.

2. Human longevity breakthroughs

Advances in biomedical technology and research are leading to breakthroughs in human longevity. This means that people are living longer and healthier lives than ever before.

This research is creating opportunities in healthcare, biotech, and AI companies that are developing new products and services to help people live longer and healthier lives.

3. Extraterrestrial life

The search for extraterrestrial (ET) life and habitable planets is one of the most exciting and challenging scientific endeavors of our time. While there is no definitive evidence of ET life yet, there is a growing consensus among scientists that it is likely to exist somewhere in the universe.

This search is creating investment opportunities in new technologies to explore space, develop extraterrestrial habitats, and search for ET life.

4. Plant-grown “animal” proteins

Plant-grown “animal” proteins are a new type of food, produced from plants, but with the same taste, texture or proteins as meat. This type of food is increasingly popular as people become aware of the environmental and health impacts of eating meat.

As a consequence, it leads to a stream of opportunities in plant-based food and new technologies to produce plant-based “animal” proteins.

5. Controlling climate change dynamics

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing the world today. There is a growing need to develop new technologies and solutions to control climate change dynamics and mitigate its impacts.

This leads to investments in companies developing technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, capture carbon dioxide and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

6. AI-based innovation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the most transformative technologies of our time. AI is already being widely used, and its impact is only going to grow in the years to come. A variety of open source frameworks proliferates the use quickly.

This technology is creating new opportunities for investors in companies that are developing advanced AI-based products and services. For example, VirtuaGym’s AI-coach in fitness.

7. Drones everywhere

Drones are becoming increasingly popular and affordable. And, they are being used in a variety of industries, including agriculture, construction, and delivery. Given ageing populations, there is no way around the large-scale robotification of virtually everything we do.

Therefore, this drone technology is creating opportunities for investors in drone companies, or companies that are developing new applications for robots.

8. Augmented ecosystem diversification

Biologists warn for mass extinction events, now that we have entered the Anthropocene. On the other hand, research and technological advances are improving our abilities to recreate viable ecosystems at sea or on land. For this purpose, many innovations are needed to protect the biodiversity of our planet, which we need to control the in- and out-flux of greenhouse gases, and to preserve Earth as a habitable planet.

9. Quantum computing

Quantum computing is a new type of computing that has the potential to solve problems that are too complex for classical computers. It’s still in its early stages of development, but has the potential to revolutionize industries like medicine, materials science, and finance.

Logically, there are vast deep-tech opportunities for investors in quantum computing and its applications.

10. Photonics

Photonics is the science of light and its interactions with matter. This technology is used in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, computing, and healthcare.

Photonics is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to revolutionize a variety of industries. This is creating deep-tech opportunities for investors in photonics companies, including application developments.

Return on world-changing investment

This is our Icecat Capital view on world-changing investment themes that may impact the world and our lives as we know it. Investors who identify and invest in these themes early on are well-positioned to generate significant returns in the years to come. As the risks associated with groundbreaking technologies are also extremely high, there is – of course – no guarantee that the investment in specific companies and technologies will be successful.

Martijn Hoogeveen

Founder and CEO of Icecat NV. Investor. Ph.D.