What to expect in 2025 ?

The end of any year is traditionally a time of reflection. It’s a chance to take stock and look back on the past 12 months: the successes, the lessons, and the opportunities for improvements. A lot of opportunities will be available for entrepreneurs like you, who want to start (or consolidate) your Internationalization Journey, either by using Portugal as a gateway to your European operations or scaling up in Europe.   

Businesses have faced huge challenges and have undergone an incredible amount of change over the past few years, and this won’t slow down in 2025. On the contrary, the New Order will be an increasing uncertainty coming from the CHAOS that apparently it seems will be part of a new normal. 

Here are some trends, I believe, will have the greatest day-to-day impact on the way we work and will do business in 2025. 

1. Generative AI

GenAI tools help organizations across industries develop text, audio, and video content, as well as computer programming code, product designs, virtual environments, and simulations for a variety of business situations.  Generative AI can speed up these processes and enable people without technical expertise in a specific area to explore possibilities.   For example, a start-up company could use AI to develop weeks’ worth of content for a brand awareness campaign.   

2.   Sustainability

Companies and startups need to make sure that their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) processes are moved to the center of their strategy.   This should start with measuring the impact any business is having on the environment and then upgrade it to greater reporting and accountability.  Every business needs a plan with clear goals and clear roadmaps of how to reduce those negative impacts.

Examples should include:

• Circular economy, when products are designed, produced, consumed, and recycled in a closed-loop system to reduce waste and maximize efficiency.
• Raising awareness of “greenwashing” , when companies over-emphasize an eco-friendly aspect of a product while overshadowing its damaging aspects.
• Regulatory compliance, requiring companies to meet eco-friendly standards through reporting, assessments, and product labeling. 

3.   Decarbonisation

Decarbonisation is the process of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2), sent into the atmosphere. Its objective is to achieve a low-emission global economy to attain climate neutrality via the energy transition. Decarbonization has become one of the ruling topics in the ESG space, with many organizations rushing to define net-zero strategies in 2025.

4. Digital Transition

In 2025, we will see the continuation of innovations in disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the internet of things (IoT), virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), cloud computing, blockchain, and 5G.  

To get ready for this, startups with their agile business models, can provide a launching pad for other companies, by, for instance, getting involved in Open Innovation projects.  By implementing these programs, Corporates will have access to these great benefits:

▪ Solving strategic or operational “problems”;

▪ Reducing time-to-market for new products;

▪ Implementing Innovation in a very cost-competitive way

▪ Capture talent and Create new revenue streams;

Interested in getting involved in Open Innovation projects ?  Secure your place now! You can help us to prepare our 2025 Programs just by answering this small questionnaire here and we will get in touch.