Strategic outlook Structural battery composites By Dubai Future Foundation The convergence of materials science and energy technology through structural battery composites represents a critical inflection point for global industries. Over the next decade, these innovative materials have the potential to fundamentally restructure how infrastructure, energy storage and product design are conceived across multiple sectors. With 85% of lithium currently refined by just three countries,6 the geopolitical landscape of critical minerals currently stands at a pivotal moment. SBCs offer a strategic pathway to diversify and decentralize energy material supply chains. This technological shift could reshape global economic dependencies, transforming how nations approach energy infrastructure and technological sovereignty. Beyond supply chain impacts, transformative potential is most evident in transport. In the automotive sector, a 10% reduction in vehicle weight can improve fuel efficiency by 6-8% and increase EV range by 70%.7,8 Aviation presents an equally compelling opportunity, with potential fuel efficiency improvements of 15% over a 1,500 km flight.9 These are not merely incremental improvements, but potential catalysts for systemic change in transport design and energy consumption. To realize benefits at scale, strategic leaders must recognize challenges that extend beyond technological innovation. Existing regulatory frameworks do not fully account for dual-function materials. Safety standards, testing protocols and building codes will require comprehensive reimagining to accommodate materials that simultaneously provide structural integrity and energy storage. Sustainability is both a critical challenge and an opportunity. Carbon fibre, while five times stronger than steel, currently faces significant environmental constraints due to carbon-intensive production and recycling challenges.10,11 However, advances in AI-driven composite material design suggest the emergence of more scalable, bio-based alternatives.12 The most forward-thinking organizations will view this technology as more than a product improvement. It represents a fundamental redesign of how material functionality is conceived. In construction, this means buildings that are not just shelters, but active energy systems. In electronics, it translates to devices that seamlessly integrate structural integrity and power storage. Strategic decision-makers face a critical choice. Those who proactively invest in understanding and developing these technologies will be positioned to: Redesign entire product categories Reduce energy consumption across industrial sectors Create more resilient and adaptive infrastructural systems Develop new economic models that challenge existing technological paradigms The next decade will offer significant advantages to organizations that look beyond incremental improvements and recognize SBCs as a transformative technological platform. Success will depend on unprecedented collaboration across materials science, design, energy systems and regulatory frameworks. Related DFF megatrends: Materials and Energy Boundaries13 Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2025 11