Weak signals in science and technologies 2024 : technologies at an early stage of development that could impact our future

Detecting emerging technologies is crucial for policymaking as it helps to anticipate future trends and address their potential societal, economic, and security impacts. Early identification also allows policymakers to support strategic industries, orient research and innovation, and guide regulation to ensure competitiveness. The present report presents a comprehensive analysis of 221 weak signals in technology development, distributed in twelve clusters, which were detected over the course of 2024. These signals were spotted using text mining, clustering techniques and scientometric indicators applied to peer-reviewed scientific publications (Scopus) and patent documents (Patstat).