Our Scans · (LF.9) 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.

• Researchers at PNNL are working to unlock its remaining energy potential through nuclear fuel recycling, a suite of chemical and physical processes that recover materials for reuse as reactor fuel or other industrial applications. AZOM
• Memory demand is outpacing supply, with HBM and DRAM prices likely to remain elevated through at least 2027 as AI infrastructure expands. Seeking Alpha
• Linear actuators are anticipated to dominate, accounting for 62% of the total share in 2026, propelled by their expanding use in wastegate control, EGR valve management, and bypass valve actuation in both automotive and industrial turbomachinery applications. Persistence Market Research
• Swiftly implementing the proposed regulatory measures could unleash significant economic momentum without requiring additional funding and strengthen Germany's position as an innovation hub over the long term. Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
• Cybersecurity protection for critical infrastructure similarly depends heavily on European regulatory frameworks such as the Network and Information Security 2 Directive, while NATO identifies operational vulnerabilities and resilience requirements. Hudson Institute
• Renewable Energy Directive III requires 42% of industrial hydrogen to come from renewable sources by 2030, which supports proton exchange membrane electrolysis demand. Mordor Intelligence
• Production from projects operated by TotalEnergies and CNOOC is expected to begin during the second half of 2026, although timelines surrounding Uganda's emerging petroleum industry have shifted previously. The Fintech Times
• Continued AI infrastructure deployments, higher memory content per AI server, and sustained demand for high-bandwidth memory will support memory revenue growth through 2027 and beyond. Network World
• Other use cases with more than one billion IoT devices by 2033 are connected (autonomous) vehicles, IT infrastructure, asset tracking & monitoring, and smart grid. Statista
• The US-based organization highlights a growing risk that innovation alone will not be enough without professionals prepared to apply emerging technologies, navigate complexity, and translate scientific knowledge into solutions. CNS Media
• 4G is the fastest-growing technology, projected to achieve a CAGR of 7.5% from 2026 to 2032, as it enhances communication between connected vehicles and infrastructure. 6wresearch
• Nation-State & Hacktivism: Netflix is not a critical infrastructure target like power grids, but as a U.S. tech company, it could become collateral in broader cyber conflicts (e.g. if sanctions trigger retaliatory cyber actions). Risk Intelligence Service
• The timeline for the quantum threat remains uncertain, but organizations - particularly Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) owners and government agencies - must begin preparation for migration now. Cyber Security Agency of Singapore
• Industry research identifies AI as one of the major forces expected to reshape luxury over the coming years. Kalkine
• Full development of alternative fuel bunkering and charging infrastructure would generally take five to 10 years, while some projects could stretch as far as 2050. gCaptain
• Connecting Canada's fragmented grids east-west-north through new and expanded transmission lines: Consultations will address barriers to interprovincial interties, including duplicative infrastructure and wasted power that affects reliability and affordability. Torys LLP
• Building the infrastructure needed to double Canada's electricity generation: Consultations will consider how to finance the build-out, spread costs over time, and keep electricity affordable. Torys LLP
• The BIS expects debt pressure to continue beyond 2031 as ageing populations increase pension and healthcare costs while governments demand more money for infrastructure, renewable energy, and defence. Armstrong Economics
• Venezuela will keep ownership of its natural resources while leveraging capital, technology and operational expertise to support the recovery of a strategic industry that has been severely affected by sanctions. Al Jazeera
• The short-term goal of the Net-Zero Industry Act aims to achieve net-zero manufacturing capacity to meet at least 40% of the EU's annual deployment needs by 2030 (Regulation 2024/1735, 2024). Scientific Advice Mechanism
• As a complement to adoption data, we can anchor the economic weight by sector with PwC's 2030 view which quantifies 5G's GDP impact by industry-led by healthcare and smart utilities, followed by consumer & media (~ US$254 B), manufacturing, and financial services. cavliwireless.com
• As the world progresses into an age of orbital industrialization, the distinction between space infrastructure and terrestrial infrastructure will continue to dissolve. DebateUS

Last updated: 02 November 2026