Technology Convergence Report 2025

1.1 Combination The foundation of technological synergy At the heart of technological innovation lies combination: the integration of discrete complementary technologies to create something fundamentally new. To understand this process, it’s essential to consider granularity, or the degree to which technologies can be analysed at the sub-component level. For example – artificial intelligence (AI) is a universal term for many subcomponents such as machine learning (ML), natural language processing (NLP), large language models (LLMs), neural nets and more. When progress in a technology domain like AI occurs, it is occurring at the sub-component level as they each evolve at different rates pushing the technology domain forward. For instance, from 2021 to the present, massive progress has occurred in the NLP/LLM field which is often cited as an advancement in AI more generally. The reality is more nuanced; the different sub-components – in this case graphics processing units (GPUs) and LLMs more specifically – of a technology have evolved at different rates to collectively push the technology domain forward. More importantly, when technologies combine, it is at the sub-component level. The combination of AI and quantum technology involves the convergence of ML, quantum algorithms and quantum computing to create new solutions. Quantum algorithms are used to simulate phenomena (such as electronic structures, rovibrational spectra) at the atomistic level, while AI/ML is used for analyses and simulations of molecular phenomena (macromolecular structures, intermolecular forces). Thus, quantum ML blends models across both scales – atomistic and molecular to derive new insights into how materials are constructed, or how to modify them to make them more suitable for real-world applications. While, in theory, many technologies can be combined, not all combinations produce meaningful outcomes. An observation from this work is that the most valuable combinations tend to involve an interlock of technologies at different maturity levels – for example, pairing experimental innovations with stable, scalable infrastructure. These combinations strike a balance between novelty and deployment readiness. Allocating limited resources across these maturity levels requires a disciplined approach to technology assessment that goes beyond traditional return on investment (ROI) calculations, requiring a balanced portfolio approach that considers future value and business model innovation potential. The combination of AI and quantum technology involves the convergence of ML, quantum algorithms and quantum computing to create new solutions.In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, multiple technological developments occur in parallel, each with variable trajectories, impact potentials and adoption timelines. This complexity creates a fundamental strategic dilemma: which technological developments deserve immediate attention and investment, and which remain too immature or isolated to drive significant business value? The 3C Framework offers a dynamic model for capturing the interplay of complementary innovations and understanding how technology creates value, through three interconnected stages: –Combination: The integration of complementary technologies based on their level of maturity –Convergence: When these technological combinations allow firms to migrate and participate in new value chains, thus converging existing value chains and allowing new entrants –Compounding: When value chain convergence drives exponential adoption and cost reduction, creating ecosystem impacts and enabling further technological combinations downstream This addresses how strategic value emerges from the momentum of integration, adoption and scale, and helps provide clarity on which combinations offer the greatest strategic opportunities, how they may illuminate new business models, and when they are likely to scale and deliver returns. By systematically analysing technology development through the lens of combination, convergence and compounding, organizations can identify emerging opportunities faster, position for advantage within evolving value chains, and capture value adjacent to scaling technological transformations, aligning immediate business objectives and long-term market positioning. Technology Convergence Report 8