On the Frontier of Underhyped Tech
This is a published version of our On the Frontier (OtF) newsletter series. Every month we take one global critical challenge and explore what’s at the cutting edge of it, together. Click here to join the FT Network and receive our newsletter directly.
Beyond the Hype: Nine frontier technologies to watch
Amidst the buzz of AI, self-driving cars and robotics, truly game-changing technologies are being overlooked. Over the past few months, we’ve been scanning the horizon for the breakthroughs hiding in plain sight—and analysing 142 innovations that could make a real difference but rarely make headlines.
Pulling at this thread led us to nine technologies that hold real potential to shape a more sustainable, resilient future in the face of a rapidly changing development landscape and the relentless threats of climate change. They’re the complex, unsexy solutions that can power off-grid communities, optimise water cycles and speed up the shift to renewables.
It’s time to turn our attention away from the traditional hype cycle and bring these technologies into the spotlight. The real frontier isn’t about what’s trending—it’s about what can quietly, sustainably transform lives.
We’ve now launched the full card deck of Underhyped Frontier Technologies, recommendations and an interactive webpage, which you can explore here.
Our portfolio shows where we've put tech to the test
We may be about to publish our Nine Underhyped Frontier Technologies for Development, but this isn't the first "top tech list" we've published. We've been chasing the most promising tech for development for nearly ten years now.
Ten years ago, a milestone research piece Ten Frontier Technologies for International Development led to the launch of the Frontier Tech Hub, to test and learn about them in the real world. In 2020, we surfaced and published the Top Ten Frontier Technologies for Climate Action.
If you look at the graph above, you'll see how the technologies from each of those reports has manifested in our real-life portfolio, where we've put our theories and insights to the test in lean, agile ways.
Since 2016, we have tested 92 solutions across 33 countries, building an expanding portfolio where technologies which were once just curious glimmers on the horizon are now full ecosystems concrete learnings.
And now, we're exploring the next Frontier: the Nine Underhyped Frontier Technologies for International Development.
Here's a peak at one of our nine technologies
When you think of breakthrough tech, green goo in a tube probably doesn’t come to mind. Algal photobioreactors are essentially sealed systems that grow algae using light, CO₂ and nutrients. But behind the tubes and tanks lies real potential.
Algae capture carbon faster than trees, purify wastewater, support soil regeneration, and provide a clean fuel source. And this fast-growing organism thrives where other crops can’t—on rooftops, in rural communities, or even next to industrial plants.
So why haven’t you heard more about them? Like many quietly powerful technologies, algal photobioreactors are complex and often dismissed as too expensive or niche. Most projects are at small-scale, experimental stages.
But the field is moving fast - Innovations in bioengineering, automation, and localised deployment open up new possibilities. Our research looks at those pushing the boundaries, from experimental algae farms in Morocco to modular systems in Hong Kong.
This is the first of nine tech deep dives we're publishing over the coming weeks. Click the link below to explore how photobioreactors work, what makes them so versatile, and how they might fit into broader efforts to build sustainable, circular systems in resource-constrained settings.
“When we think about technologies like algal photobioreactors, their adaptability is a major strength. But without viable financial models, they remain out of reach for many communities that could benefit from them the most."
Tatiana Zúñiga Burgos, Global Brain Trust member, Colombia
Still curious? Here's three more for you
FT pilot Vero Vaccines met with World Bank in Senegal to talk biotech, girls and vaccine resilience.
Our Robotics for Development exploration is live! Explore the potential for agritech, waste and more.
We've just released our latest evidence deep dive on the Circular Economy. Be the first to read it!
Ps. Have you heard about our Helpdesk offer? 🧑💻
The Frontier Tech Helpdesk supports members of the FCDO to explore how emerging technology and innovations can shape their work by providing tailored research, evidence, and advisory support. In fact, the AI for Education topic brief mentioned above was produced in response to a Helpesk request by an FCDO colleague. Click here to learn more and submit a request!
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