Current analyses from horizon scanning on space weather, bridge renovation and sodium-ion batteries
Which technological and societal trends are set to become more important in the coming years? As part of its ongoing horizon scanning, TAB developed five new topic briefs in the second half of 2025. These briefs address developments that could become politically, scientifically, and socially relevant in the future, ranging from new challenges for technical infrastructures to technological solutions in construction, energy, and medicine.
The new topic briefs at a glance
- Space weather and its effects: current state of knowledge and research needs
Risks to technical infrastructures, existing knowledge gaps and priority research needs - Bridge renovation as a driver of innovation – potential of technical solutions in bridge construction
New processes and materials as well as digital monitoring approaches for more efficient structural maintenance - Xenotransplantation - a potential contribution to solving the organ shortage
Medical advances, remaining risks and key ethical and regulatory issues in this field of research - Recycling and disposal of rotor blades from wind turbines
Recycling paths for fibre-reinforced plastics, technological recycling options, and regulatory design tasks - Next-generation energy storage: Focus on sodium-ion batteries
Development trends, potential applications, and prospects for safe and sustainable energy storage
These approximately 10-page topic briefs provide a concise overview of scientific and technical developments in their early stages. They outline possible societal impacts and indicate where in-depth analyses are useful in the context of technology assessment. This way, they support parliamentary groups and committees in identifying topics, providing political advice, and facilitating debates on the future. TAB has been conducting systematic horizon scanning since 2014. All 88 topic briefs published to date can be found here.