Think tank identifies 10 emerging technologies that could boost EU security, save lives, and add €500 billion to GDP by 2040, urging strategic innovation investments.
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| CFG project outlines 10 critical technologies to boost EU security and economic growth by 2040, calling for strategic investments to close innovation gaps. Image: Rowan Emslie |
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – May 17, 2025:
The Centre for Future Generations (CFG) has identified 10 critical emerging technologies that hold the potential to significantly improve Europe’s security preparedness and economic competitiveness. According to the project, effective deployment of these technologies could save 150,000 European lives each year, reduce economic risks by €100 billion annually, and contribute an additional €500 billion to the European Union’s GDP by 2040.
Jakob Graabak, Tech Foresight Director at CFG, explained that Europe currently stands at a technological crossroads. He emphasized that these identified technologies could shift Europe from a reactive approach to crises toward proactive preparedness, addressing multiple overlapping threats while simultaneously promoting economic growth.
The initiative was launched alongside the Tech & Democracy day at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2025, co-hosted by CFG and the Alliance of Democracies. It responds to calls made in the Niinistö and Draghi reports for more proactive European Union engagement in strategic innovation investment.
CFG’s research focuses on four main security domains where innovation is especially urgent. In biosecurity, it addresses vulnerabilities exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to prepare for future pandemics potentially accelerated by synthetic biology. In terms of defense and deterrence, it stresses the importance of strategic investments in drone warfare and military AI to meet evolving geopolitical challenges. The project also highlights artificial intelligence safety, emphasizing the need to develop trustworthy AI systems while narrowing the EU’s investment gap relative to global competitors. Additionally, climate security is identified as a key area, with a focus on building resilience against extreme weather events that threaten food security, water access, and public health.
The analysis comes at a critical moment as Europe faces significant gaps in funding emerging technologies. Prior to 2025, the EU invested only about 4% of what the United States allocated to AI research, and its share of global biotechnology R&D spending has fallen from 41% to 31% over the past two decades.
Velislava Petrova, CFG’s Chief Programme Officer, underscored the need for the EU to adopt an approach that balances innovation with regulation. She stated that supporting these strategic technologies will allow Europe to enhance both its security and competitiveness while safeguarding democracy and fundamental rights.
The full project provides a comprehensive roadmap for policymakers, highlighting technologies with the greatest potential to address Europe’s security challenges and stimulate economic growth. The first two parts of the analysis are already available online.