CCBRE's participation in the foresight analysis 'Mission Green Innovations: Focus Industry'

As part of MOVE.BG's broad-based STEEP (Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, Political) analysis, we at CCBRE have identified two transformative trends that are shaping the intersection of technology, the environment and policy. These trends demonstrate the growing importance of environmental intelligence and resource security in global sustainability strategies.

Trend 1: From personal data to environmental data — the rise of big data for climate intelligence.

Over the past decade, personal data has become the cornerstone of marketing and sales strategies. A similar transformation is now unfolding in the environmental sphere, with data-driven intelligence becoming a key driver of climate protection and innovation in the circular economy.

Environmental data, ranging from soil, water and air sensors to waste analytics and material flow tracking, is being used to develop novel solutions to sustainability challenges.

Examples from Switzerland illustrate this shift:

• Environmental sensors are being deployed nationwide to monitor soil, water and air quality in real time.
• Big data and AI applications are being used to predict the quality of waste collected separately based on the location of collection points, enabling more efficient recycling strategies and site optimisation.
• New professorships in Big Data, Applied AI and Data Science for Environmental Protection and Recycling — a clear sign that this trend is shaping the future of research and innovation.

This convergence of technology, environmental science, and policy signifies a fundamental shift in paradigm: moving from merely observing nature to actively managing ecosystems through data-driven decision-making.

Trend 2: Critical raw materials as strategic leverage — from resource security to geopolitical power.

The recycling and recovery of critical raw materials, such as phosphorus, lithium and rare earth elements, is now a matter of geopolitical importance. It has also become a strategic and political instrument that defines global competitiveness and stability.

Products that depend on these materials, including semiconductors, fertilisers and renewable energy components, are now at the centre of international trade tensions. Nations are increasingly treating access to these resources as a 'weapon' of influence and negotiation.

Whereas domestic production and recycling were once considered a bonus, they are now a necessity for sovereignty, resilience and innovation security. Europe and Switzerland's growing focus on urban mining, circular resource recovery and critical material independence reflects this new geopolitical reality.

In the coming years, the ability to sustainably secure and recycle critical materials will not only define industrial competitiveness, but also the balance of power in the global economy.

Our Outlook

At CCBRE, we recognise that these two trends are closely linked drivers of change. The shift towards data-driven environmental intelligence will transform how we monitor, predict and manage sustainability challenges. Meanwhile, the strategic focus on critical raw materials and circular resource recovery will be crucial for ensuring future resilience and competitiveness. Through our ongoing research and partnerships, we aim to address both areas by turning environmental data into actionable insights and developing practical solutions for resource efficiency, recycling, and clean technology innovation.