Talk of virtual realities and alternative digital realms has been generating excitement and expectations for decades. The technology has finally gone beyond the stage of being little more than an enhanced video game, and now has the power to enhance and disrupt multiple fields. Its potential uses in medicine range from the training of specialist...

Alongside the ongoing advance of technology in IT, geopolitical issues and supply chain disruptions are expected to continue to impact the sector in 2023. Navigating this more complex landscape while delivering for clients is on course to be one of IT professionals' big challenges for the year ahead, and beyond. One of the IT trends...

Nearly third of all the money in managed investment funds is currently estimated to be in ESG-related vehicles. In theory, this means tens of trillions of dollars are being put to good use in solving the world’s environmental, social and (corporate) governance problems. The reality is more complex, but the ESG trend is not going...

Utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) in life sciences is on the cusp of rapid expansion as it transforms research, analysis and delivery of healthcare by bringing major changes to the way multiple fields operate. In terms of global market size, AI in life sciences is forecast to grow nearly 30% annually to reach $12.7 billion...

  Every breakthrough technological wave brings with it a host of opportunities, and of course challenges. The coming convergence of cloud, network and devices is set to be a truly transformational shift, bringing together and combining the capabilities of fields that are each by themselves advancing at a rapid pace. The amplified power of these...

Auctions for the next round of offshore wind developments in Japan are due to restart at the end of this year under rules revamped in response to criticism of the previous bidding process. The changes are in part designed to encourage the continued participation of overseas developers, which is recognised as vital if Japan is...

Following a pandemic-induced lull in 2020, M&A roared back last year and cross-border deals hit all-time record levels. Japanese firms have long been known for their overseas acquisitions, but a combination of shifts in the corporate landscape, succession issues and the current weak yen are making inbound deals more attractive and feasible than ever. The...

Recessions, depressions, downturns: drops in economic activity have come in various forms, lengths and intensity over the years. But one consistent feature is that they have been accompanied by major job losses and corresponding rises in unemployment. A global slowdown may be on the cards, and may already have begun. There are more than a...

Around the globe in 2022, approximately $6 trillion in insurance premiums will be paid, and the sector is predicted to continue to enjoy solid growth in the years ahead. Though the basic business model has remained largely unchanged for centuries, technology has been driving increased efficiency in recent years. In addition to digitalisation and machine...

On the evening of March 21, the Japanese government issued the first energy supply warning in the nation’s history, urging people, businesses and organisations to save electricity in order to avoid blackouts. The warning came after Japan’s power grid, already under pressure due to the global energy crisis, had been further disrupted by a powerful...