There is a growing impact of technology and digital connectivity on how we live, including how we communicate, socialize, work, produce and govern. The pace of technological advancements – including (generative) AI, neuro- and biotech, robotics, and quantum computing and -sensors – is accelerating, driving societal changes increasingly fast. These advances fuel automation, enhanced productivity and economic opportunities, even in space. However, they bring new challenges as well: cybersecurity threats, digital inequality, and the societal impacts of misinformation and tech addiction – to name a few - are growing concerns. Regulation related to the development and use of technology is a pressing challenge, for security, privacy and ethical considerations, especially in fields such as bioengineering and AI. 

Technology has become a geopolitical tool and there is a need to guarantee ‘strategic autonomy’ (i.e. independence) in critical technologies and materials. To achieve climate targets, technology is playing a key role in decarbonising industries, transportation and agriculture, though the environmental footprint of digital infrastructure needs attention. Striking a balance between progress, societal well-being and environmental sustainability is crucial