Connected Future

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Technology-driven transformations are not only disrupting our everyday lives but are also radically transforming the infrastructure sector. On the one hand, innovation is driving an upgrade of existing infrastructure, such as digital; on the other hand, it is determining the emergence of new asset classes like charging points for electric vehicles.

The starting point of our journey will be digital, which is providing the backbone for digitalisation of the economy. While 4G – the fourth generation of mobile phone technology – has already witnessed robust deal flow, the advent of 5G is set to lay the foundations for a huge range of innovation.

Moving to energy, storage technologies, particularly batteries, are providing a wide range of flexible services required in our increasingly decentralised, distributed and intermittent electricity systems.

Meanwhile in the transport sector, long held as a cornerstone of infrastructure investment, the smart mobility revolution gathers pace. The rise of electrified, connected and autonomous vehicles is likely to represent the most significant transformation of transport since the invention of steam locomotives and internal combustion engines in the 19th century. Investment in cyber security is required, as transport infrastructure will become vulnerable to security attacks. 

As our report examines in detail, not all countries are receptive to technology innovations to the same degree, thereby offering fewer opportunities. In Europe, the UK is firmly securing its role as a global hotbed of infrastructure innovation, thanks to its forward-looking regulatory framework. While in Asia, Singapore is already becoming a testing ground for new technologies, given its thriving start-up ecosystem and its conducive legislation.