2021 is the year scientific work has been more in the public spotlight than ever before. So far, the year has been integral for research and development, innovation and progress. In this article, we aim to highlight some main areas or trends from the R&D world and provide some insight into what has been happening in these fields.
Vaccine Development
Starting with a more obvious one, a lot of focus in research and development has been on vaccine development and rollout. Since the COVID-19 outbreak at the end of 2019 and the 2020 takeover, the quest to stop the virus is still ongoing. The most notable vaccinations, approved by the World Health Organization, have been Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca.
The focus of 2021 has been finding a way to vaccinate the world as quickly and efficiently as possible. Researchers are still working to expand upon authorized vaccines, especially a single-shot version, rather than the current two-dose shots in circulation.
The Climate Crisis
The state of climate change has now reached emergency status, and since, the work of politicians and scientists has taken the spotlight. With Joe Biden rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement on behalf of the US and the approaching (delayed) UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
The growing demand for sustainable options has created an urgency for green products, services, green technology, zero emissions, and hydrocarbon replacements. Because of this, we’ve seen an increase in research spend and funding from the private sector. Whilst companies are increasingly opting for biodegradable plastics, recycled products, biopolymers, plant-based and bio-based chemicals, and reduced solvents, to do their part in tackling rising global temperatures.
Space Exploration
Although launched in 2020, NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover landed in early 2021, with a planned mission duration of one year. The rover aims to identify any past environments that were capable of supporting microbial life, search for any biosignatures, collect rock and soil samples, and test oxygen from the Martian atmosphere.
Landing at a similar time on the Red Planet, was China’s Tianwen-1, the country’s first independent interplanetary mission. The probe is a combination orbiter, lander, and rover, with five objectives, which are:
- Map the morphology and geology of the planet
- Investigate surface soil properties and water/ice distribution
- Analyze the surface material composition
- Measure the ionosphere and characteristics of the Martian climate and surface environment
- Perceive the physical fields (electromagnetic and gravitational) and the internal structure of the planet
Research and development efforts have also focused on the long-awaited launch of the James Watt Space Telescope, scheduled for this October. This highly anticipated leap in science and engineering will hopefully tell us more about the history of our universe.
Conservation and Nature
The Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework is “a steppingstone towards the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature”. The aims of the treaty are for 30% of the world’s land and sea habitats to have official protected status by 2030. Ambitious as this seems, we’re going to see a boom in R&D efforts in this sector.
There’s a focus on preserving and protecting marine biodiversity and scientists have had to start acting quickly before areas like the reefs die out forever. The technology for coral reef restoration is showing hope thanks to the spawning of mature, resilient corals in five years instead of decades.
The Dawn of 5G in Manufacturing
5G is a wireless technology mobile network that is 100 times faster than its predecessor, 4G. 5G service is expected to revolutionize a number of industries. The manufacturing sector will benefit drastically with the removal of processing delays and the help from real-time system response, which 4G networks simply can’t provide.
5G will expand the entire mobile ecosystem into new realms. It will make for safe transportation, remote healthcare, precision agriculture, digitized logistics, and much, much more. According to research by Qualcomm, the full economic effect of 5G will likely be realized by 2035, whilst providing up to 22.8 million jobs.
To discuss any of the trends covered in this article and how Delta Scientific can help with your R&D project, please get in touch with the team today.