I want to understand global trends

A mega-trend is a general trend that affects the development of the whole of society. You can use mega-trends as inspiration for developing new products that can take on the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.

Here are some mega-trends for inspiration:

• Population ageing is an issue in most parts of the world. Are your products or services aimed at an ageing population? Have you made sure that it is not too hard to get up the step into your shop? Have you considered, for example, that many pensioners have the money to travel and a desire to support the local population in poor countries that they visit?
  
  
• Urbanisation is accelerating, and there is a need for solutions that make it easier for large numbers of people to live in a limited space without being troubled by each other's pollution. We already have car-sharing and cargo bikes – do you have an idea for what comes next?

• Scarcity of resources is a growing challenge affecting sectors such as:
  − energy
  − food
  − pollution control/climate change
  − water supply and waste management
  
  
• A new generation is dominating the labour market. The new generation differs in being very demanding in terms of salary, career opportunities and leisure time. But it is also creative, team-spirited, technologically advanced – and attracted by companies that take social responsibility.
  
  
• New technology such as the internet and mobile phones, together with cheap air travel, means that thoughts and ideas can spread rapidly around the world. Have you developed a sustainable quality product for the few people happy to pay a little extra? Then sell to this widely scattered group using the internet.