3 technologies to watch out for

Programming of living organisms, super intelligent algorithms and sensors in human bodies. Although this sounds like the distant future, it can soon become a reality.  Jakob Svagin, Project Manager at the hardware accelerator of the Danish Tech Challenge, identifies 3 rapidly developing technologies to keep on eye on.

According to Jacob Svagin, what is common to all three technologies is that they are developing rapidly and will be accessible to entrepreneurs in the not-so-distant future.

Here are his top three technologies to watch out for.

# 1 Synthetic biology
Synthetic biology is the act of creating innovative biological functions that are not found in nature.

“It is fantastically interesting, because it allows us to program and adjust living organisms.The rate of reading and writing DNA is moving at a fast pace, “says Jakob Svagin.

The development of this field is enabled by research into genes and the production of artificial DNA.

“You can purchase computing power for a certain amount of money that is increasing exponentially.  We are now seeing a similar, but much more rapid development in synthetic biology.The amount of DNA you can read and write for a specific amount of money is falling at lightening speed.”

The interesting thing about these technologies is that they will be made more accessible to entrepreneurs.

“Entrepreneurs can start working with synthetic biology, which just 10 years ago was reserved for huge research institutes.There’s going to be gigantic revolution in personalized medicine, treatment, and the ability to program living organisms,” says Jakob Svagin.

# 2 Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is just around the corner, and it’s going to transform employment, housing, infrastructure, and accident statistics.Self-propelled cars is one of the areas where artificial intelligence is already in use.

“It’s very exciting because in principle, there are no limits to how intelligent artificial intelligence can be. We only know of artificial intelligence as something that is not very smart,” says Jakob Svagin.

“Artificial intelligence is going to be present in classrooms or medical consultations, because you can have an omniscient virtual assistant you can get information from, which is something that can transform many industries.”

# 3 Microelectronics and sensors
We have already witnessed the development of microelectronics and sensors, but this trend is far from over.
“Sensors are smaller, cheaper, and better. We have gone from desktops, laptops, tablets, smart phones to watches, all of which have built-in computer functions.

“It doesn’t take a big leap of imagination to see that sensors in things like contact lenses or implants under the skin. Technology is becoming more visible and closer to our bodies.The number of people who have advanced technology on or in their body will increase dramatically,” he says.

Startups such as Sens Innovation, who are participating in this year’s Danish Tech Challenge, have developed a thin and flexible electronic sensor, which can be pasted onto the skin as a patch and measures everyday physical activity around the clock.