The need to move people and goods has been ever present throughout the ages. What continually changes are the modes of transportation. The new WIPO Technology Trends 2025 report reveals the future forms of transportation.
And today we are at a tipping point: climate change and breakthrough technologies are pushing the boundaries of transportation, ushering an era of sustainable and efficient modes of transportation.
Traveling from one place to another is becoming seamless, from walking to cycling to taking the train and then the plane. Driverless cars are already transporting people. Electric vehicles are making transportation more sustainable. New spaceships promise a future where Space becomes the hottest tourist destination.
Be it determining what your next personal vehicle should be to deciding future transportation policies, this rapid transformation of transportation makes it imperative that we understand the technologies of today and more importantly where it is headed in the future.
What are the main transportation trends of the future?
Transportation of the future will be driven by two main trends: sustainability and digitalization.
Sustainable Transportation
Rapid global climate change is affecting the transportation sector and the newest technologies are making transportation greener and more sustainable, reducing environmental impact. Sustainable transportation is driven by technologies related to sustainable propulsion and automation and circularity.
Transport Digitalization
The world is becoming highly interconnected digitally and that is reshaping transportation, allowing mobility to be more efficient, safer, and personalized. Transport digitalization is driven by technologies related to human–machine interface and communication and security.
Sustainable propulsion
Batteries, electric propulsion and hydrogen fuel cells are some technologies that are reducing the environmental impact of transportation.
Automation and circularity in transportation
Automation technologies like industrial robots and recycling process and biopolymers are making production more efficient and reducing waste.
Communication and security for transportation
Digitalization is changing how we communicate with transportation systems. Technologies like lidar, 5G networks and connected vehicles are enabling autonomous vehicles and smart traffic management systems.
Human–machine interface for transportation
Touch displays, voice and face recognition and other technologies are transforming how users interact with transportation systems, making them more intuitive and secure.
Sustainable propulsion
Batteries, electric propulsion and hydrogen fuel cells are some technologies that are reducing the environmental impact of transportation.
Automation and circularity in transportation
Automation technologies like industrial robots and recycling process and biopolymers are making production more efficient and reducing waste.
Communication and security for transportation
Digitalization is changing how we communicate with transportation systems. Technologies like lidar, 5G networks and connected vehicles are enabling autonomous vehicles and smart traffic management systems.
Human–machine interface for transportation
Touch displays, voice and face recognition and other technologies are transforming how users interact with transportation systems, making them more intuitive and secure.
Read expert views
We've been caught out in the past by unexpected exhaust products from transport infrastructure. First it was horse manure, then it was CO². This time it's data. We must not make the same mistake again!
Tom Standage, Deputy Editor, The Economist, UK
The European Union has recently taken
a monumental step in air transportation by introducing new aviation regulations to accommodate vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technology, which I am confident will usher VTOLs into everyday transportation across Europe.Agnieszka Wiszowaty, co-founder, Maviator Group, Poland
Only about 20% of public transportation staff are women. But in many countries, they are the dominant users of public transportation. We need to get more women involved: in managing, in designing, operating and maintaining these systems.
Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General, International Association of Public Transport (UITP), Belgium
The future of transportation is a mix of software development, hardware development, and their integration. It is also about fuel-efficient technologies, including electric vehicles. However, there is one really big catch when considering the future of electric vehicles: the limited supply of battery materials and their supply chains.
Jason Schenker, Chairman of The Futurist Institute, USA
Dive deeper into various modes of transport
Land transportation
Land transportation constitutes the largest portion of patents. Read more for an in-depth analysis.
Sea transportation
Although sea transportation technologies have the smallest number of patents, it accounts for the dominant mode for transportation of goods and trade. Read more for an in-depth analysis.
Air transportation
Air transportation is a vital form of moving people and goods and it is not constrained by geography like land and sea transportation. Read more for an in-depth analysis.
Space transportation
Space transportation technologies are growing fast, with the promise of space tourism and private rocket launches. Read more for an in-depth analysis.
Land transportation
Land transportation constitutes the largest portion of patents. Read more for an in-depth analysis.
Sea transportation
Although sea transportation technologies have the smallest number of patents, it accounts for the dominant mode for transportation of goods and trade. Read more for an in-depth analysis.
Air transportation
Air transportation is a vital form of moving people and goods and it is not constrained by geography like land and sea transportation. Read more for an in-depth analysis.
Space transportation
Space transportation technologies are growing fast, with the promise of space tourism and private rocket launches. Read more for an in-depth analysis.
Past editions of the WIPO Technology Trends
Assistive Technology
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2021
The WIPO Technology Trends 2021 report is the first large-scale landscaping and analysis of patenting and technology trends in AT.
Assistive Technology
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2021
The WIPO Technology Trends 2021 report is the first large-scale landscaping and analysis of patenting and technology trends in AT.
Artificial intelligence
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2019
The first report in this series offers evidence-based projections to inform global policymakers on the future of artifical intelligence. It analyzes data in patent applications and scientific publications to better understand the latest trends in the field.
Artificial intelligence
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2019
The first report in this series offers evidence-based projections to inform global policymakers on the future of artifical intelligence. It analyzes data in patent applications and scientific publications to better understand the latest trends in the field.