The Next Economy

ONGOING RESEARCH

Regional Futures

The Next Economy explores the changing foundations of the global economic system. The research examines how geopolitical dynamics and regional centres are reshaping the structure of global markets. History, culture, and an understanding of supply chains are becoming increasingly important for understanding the next phase of global economic interaction.

Regions such as China, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and India require a deeper understanding as they play an increasingly important role in shaping the future global economy. Artificial intelligence is developing differently across the world, shaped by local infrastructure, energy access, computing power, regulation, investment, and political strategy. The research also examines the lived reality of how climate stress is increasingly reshaping local and regional economies through water scarcity, extreme weather, energy instability, agricultural pressure and migration.

The Next Economy investigates the accelerating expansion of the digital economy, AI-driven services, and their impact on local economies, culture and societies. By identifying the complexity and interconnectivity of these shifts, the research builds a deeper understanding of the forces shaping the future.

The economy is a reflection of deeper structural shifts in power, technology and society.

What the research offers:

• Explores the long-term evolution of global cultural and innovation ecosystems over the coming decades.

• Investigates regions such as China, Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and India.

• Analyses how global supply networks and energy systems are shifting toward new regions and strategic partnerships.

• Examines the rise of digital finance and AI-driven services.

• The Next Economy provides a strategic lens to anticipate structural shifts in macroeconomic developments.

• The research can be used for future landscape briefings, workshops, scenario development, and long-term future visioning projects.

Image, ZEISS SMT optical system EUV-lithography by ASML