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] AI's value will surge to $642 billion by 2029, with quantum-AI convergence creating $131 billion in investment opportunities in hybrid infrastructure. ThePromptBuddy
• [New] The total value of the global semiconductor industry could reach 1.6 trillion dollars by 2030. Bits&Chips
• [New] The online channels segment is predicted to witness the highest CAGR of 11.4% from 2025 to 2033 due to digital adoption, last-mile delivery infrastructure, and shifting urban consumption patterns. Market Data Forecast
• [New] As 2026 unfolds, technology is expected to continue attracting the highest deal values, supported by large-scale investment in AI, data, and digital infrastructure. PwC Malta
• [New] Companies that fail to move from Siloed Sensors to Integrated Edge Platforms today will find their infrastructure unable to handle the AI-driven predictive demands of 2030. Emerline
• [New] Nuclear power, projected to triple capacity by 2050, is increasingly being paired with digital infrastructure like AI data centers. Stanford Emerging Technology Review
• [New] Future extreme weather events will continue testing America's electrical infrastructure resilience, making fuel diversity, infrastructure hardening, and emergency preparedness critical components of reliable grid operations. Discovery Alert
• [New] Tesla says it will invest at least 20 billion dollars in 2026 on a mix of AI, robotics, energy storage, and the manufacturing infrastructure required to support them. TESMAG
• [New] The production infrastructure will likely become increasingly distributed and hardened against Ukrainian strikes, while swarm coordination tactics may emerge to further saturate defences during critical operations. Drone Warfare
• [New] Russia's current production of 404 Shahed-type drones daily indicates mature industrial capacity, with planned escalation to 1,000 units daily representing a 2.5 x increase that could overwhelm air defence through sheer volume. Drone Warfare
• [New] With global revenues projected to surpass $3 trillion by 2026, the Media & Entertainment industry is not evolving - it is being structurally redefined. TO THE NEW
• [New] By 2026, enterprises will routinely leverage agentic AI, domain-trained models, and multimodal generative AI to create personalized customer interactions, optimize logistics and eCommerce workflows, and accelerate scientific and operational innovation. Rapidops
• [New] External estimates suggest that between $5 tn and $8 tn could be required over the next five years to fund AI technologies and the enabling infrastructure for them, such as data centers, chips, networks, and new energy capacity. PwC
• [New] Big Tech is expected to invest $530 billion for building AI infrastructure in 2026, while the path to near-term monetization remains a question mark. Medium
• [New] As global competition intensifies and policy frameworks continue to evolve, the ability of the US to maintain leadership in semiconductor design, manufacturing, and innovation will depend on clear, predictable, and forward-looking policy execution. Procurement Pro
• [New] The predicted 2026 crisis is structural and permanent, driven by the explosive growth of the high-margin AI data center industry, which is causing a strategic reallocation of chip manufacturing capacity away from the lower-margin automotive sector. EnkiAI - Find the right insight
• [New] The European Union's Energy Efficiency Directive mandates an 11.7% reduction in energy consumption by 2030 compared to 2020 projections, driving unprecedented adoption of demand response infrastructure. Persistence Market Research
• [New] We keep a clear preference for Europe, supported by the implementation of fiscal stimulus plans - notably in Germany - expected to bolster infrastructure and defence sectors. Societe Generale
• [New] In 2026, the economic offerings industry - which incorporates banks, NBFCs, coverage, and FinTech - is expected to grow considerably. Motilal Oswal
• [New] The period from 2028 to 2030 will focus on finalising and optimising processes and improving line efficiency in accordance with industry standards, thereby serving as a basis for researching chip fabrication technology at more advanced process nodes. alcircle
• [New] Under the Semiconductor Industry Human Resources Development Program, Vietnam aims to train 50,000 chip design engineers by 2030, with the workforce expected to exceed 100,000 professionals by 2040 under the National Semiconductor Strategy. alcircle
• [New] To support development, NVIDIA will provide AI infrastructure, simulation libraries, models, frameworks and blueprints, while Siemens will commit hundreds of industrial AI experts and leading hardware and software. Siemens Digital Industries Software
• [New] Industry giants such as Raytheon, BAE Systems, and Thales Group are developing AI-enabled adaptive jamming systems that use machine learning to detect and neutralize interference in real time - a capability that could prove decisive in future conflicts. Grand Pinnacle Tribune

Last updated: 01 February 2026