Infrastructure In Focus
$106 trillion in investment will be necessary through 2040 to meet the need for new and updated infrastructure. The required investment spans seven critical infrastructure verticals. Transport and logistics will require the largest share ($36 trillion), followed by energy and power ($23 trillion), digital ($19 trillion), social ($16 trillion), waste and water infrastructure ($6 trillion), agriculture ($5 trillion), and defense ($2 trillion).
Infrastructure is being accelerated by a set of global forces, such as urbanization, geopolitical shifts, and skilled labor shortages. The impact is how infrastructure is planned, financed, and executed. Simultaneously, the energy transition and emerging technologies are creating new avenues for growth while adding complexity to investment strategies.
Infrastructure is at the core to advancing innovation.
Traditional infrastructure assets remain important and require significant investment to support every sector of the global economy while continuing to improve living standards. However, modern infrastructure now include newer assets, services, and technologies such as artificial intelligence, renewables, and electric vehicles. In many cases, these new elements of infrastructure integrate with established ones. For example, fiber-optic networks, electric-vehicle charging stations, Data Centers, and Internet of Things (IoT) advanced maintenance systems now operate in conjunction with traditional concrete and steel structures.
Social Development
Economic Development
Improved infrastructure attracts both domestic and foreign investment, creates employment opportunities during construction and operation, and stimulates growth in related industries such as manufacturing and services. Moreover, reliable infrastructure supports innovation and technological advancement, allowing economies to transition from traditional to knowledge-based models of growth.
Modern infrastructure significantly contributes to social development by improving quality of life. Access to clean water, healthcare facilities, and efficient public transportation empowers communities and reduces social inequalities. Digital infrastructure, in particular, enhances access to information, education, and government services, bridging the gap between urban and rural populations.
The Industries Making An IMPACT
Digital
AI-driven demand is reshaping digital infrastructure, spurring massive global investment in data centers, fiber networks, and connectivity. Data center capacity is increasing 3X by 2030, driving new fiber builds in underserved regions. Subsea cables and satellite broadband infrastructure like 2Africa and Starlink are expanding access, bridging global connectivity and enabling next-generation digital services.
Waste & Water
Waste and water infrastructure face surging demand and modernization needs. Global waste is set to double by 2050, driving investment in recycling, waste-to-energy, and AI-enabled efficiency. Aging water systems and rising industrial needs are spurring record public spending, advanced treatment adoption, and ultrapure water solutions to ensure safe, reliable supply worldwide.
Energy & Power
Energy, power, and resources infrastructure is transforming through large-scale renewables, emerging nuclear technologies, and smarter grids. Utility-scale solar and wind projects are now subsidy-free, while SMRs promise flexible low-carbon power. Massive investments in grid hardening, transmission, and digital optimization, like AI-driven grid modeling are improving resilience, efficiency, and decarbonization worldwide.
Defense
Defense infrastructure, projected to attract $2 trillion by 2040, underpins national security through bases, logistics hubs, and resilient energy and communication systems. Rising global defense budgets especially across NATO, Japan, and Australia are driving modernization, dual-use designs, modular construction, and greater private investment to enhance military readiness and operational flexibility.