As the world gradually returns to normal, the global economic landscape looks a little different from how it did a few months ago. One trend that has continued, and even accelerated, is the rapid growth and proliferation of businesses and opportunities in the digital economy. As 2022 proceeds, we can expect continued consolidation and expansion across several areas.
Networking and interconnectivity
We all rely on the internet. In every part of our economy, from retail outlets to online casinos, there will be much that is new in 2022. As more of us work from our homes, the stability of the internet and connections have become vital.
In addition, the internet of things (IoT) is making the internet an essential and integral part of our wider home environment. Advancements at all network levels will continue to fuel research and propel the internet economy ahead.
This obviously presents opportunities for those companies operating in the networking and interconnected sector. Although 5G is only just starting to get off the ground, there will already be some focus on the next stage of communication.
China began to research 6G in 2018, as did the US. In 2020, the Next G Alliance was launched, which draws on the expertise of tech companies such as Apple, AT&T and Google. Meanwhile, Korea, Japan, and many European countries have begun seriously looking at 6G and 2022 is likely to bring more news on that front.
Life science technology
This sector includes a wide range of companies, including biotechnology, environmental sciences, biomedicine, nutraceuticals, neurology, cell biology and biophysics, most of which are developing through digital technology into new areas.
2021 has sparked significant progress in life science technologies, thanks in part to increased funding in mRNA vaccine innovation. The mRNA-based vaccines created by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are examples of this invention. Merck's much publicized Covid medication breakthroughs have also played their part in boosting the life science sector.
2022 is likely to bring significant progress in many areas of life science, including advanced research, robotics applications, artificial intelligence tools, cloud computing, drug testing speed improvements, genetic data integration and gene technology applications.
We may also see more growth in the tailored medicine sector, through advances in genomics technology such as the developments that have underpinned companies like 23andMe, which assists individuals in gaining access to, understanding and benefiting from our understanding of the human genome.
High-performance IT
We expect a big increase in demand for high-performance computing consumption in 2022, owing to the recent expansion of big data-based research and analysis, as well as cloud-based computing.
High-performance computing will become more vital in a variety of applications, from drug development to cancer research to space exploration, and quantum computing technologies will be greatly in demand.
Companies, including Google, IBM, Microsoft, Amazon and Alibaba, have already made significant progress in the quantum computing sector and there are a host of associated startups such as Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Systems, ColdQuanta,1QBit, Zapata Computing and QC Ware that will be aiming to consolidate and grow in 2022.
In the coming year, we will likely see major qubit advances. Commercial quantum computing is on the horizon and this is one of the most exciting areas of the digital economy.
AI, big data and the cloud
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been ingrained in our daily lives. As we head through 2022, we are likely to witness the increasing use of artificial intelligence in a range of fields, from companies working on customization to those developing and analyzing search engine results, as well as technology that controls gadgets to software that aims to build better models of the environment.
Predictive analytics is being used by businesses to anticipate future trends. According to one survey by an influential research company, the worldwide predictive analytics market is predicted to reach $22.1bn by the end of 2026, rising at a compound annual growth rate of roughly 24.5 percent.
Cloud computing will also increase dramatically. By end of 2022, the Cloud will have become more established, with evermore workloads running on it.
Digital security
The upsurge in the number of personal and corporate cyberattacks as the world becomes increasingly digital is no accident. In recent years, significant cyberattacks have become increasingly commonplace, in part because of the increase in remote employment due to the pandemic.
It's an unfortunate reality that cyberattacks will occur across industries in 2022, though the competency of the cybersecurity industry is reassuring. As attacks become more complex, as do cutting-edge defenses. However, the first line of defense isn't high-end tech - it's training company workers to be more aware of the techniques employed by cyber-criminals.
Using artificial intelligence, comprehensive cybersecurity measures will be simpler to develop, less costly and more effective than ever before. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) may also help cybersecurity operatives detect dangers and understand the tendencies of hackers, averting future assaults.
It may also shorten the time it takes cybersecurity experts to complete their everyday jobs. For digital companies working in this space, 2022 provides both challenges and opportunities.
