Five tech trends projected to double investment in 2026

According to the McKinsey & Company Technology Trends Outlook 2026, five specific technological trends are projected to more than double their investment in 2026 compared to 2025. These trends include agentic software development, AI infrastructure and architecture, AI for scientific discovery and engineering, space technologies, and robotics.

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is driving significant demand for specialized chips, computing power, and electricity. Global capital expenditure for data center construction could approach $7 trillion by 2030. This shift is positioning energy, connectivity, and computing capacity as strategic assets, evidenced by over 2,500 GW of energy projects worldwide awaiting grid connection.

In Panama, the convergence of these technologies impacts national economic strategy. A 2026 diagnostic by the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), supported by ECLAC, notes that Panama currently operates 17 active data centers. The country's national AI strategy integrates semiconductors, microelectronics, infrastructure, talent, and cybersecurity.