MT Magazine March/April 2022

MT MAGAZINE

MARCH/APRIL 2022

27

Investment Trends in Emerging Technologies: Are We There Yet? What funding data says about the future for robotics, additive manufacturing, and the software tying it all together BY DAYTON HORVATH DIRECTOR, EMERGING TECHNOLOGY In recent years, emerging technologies appeared tobeonanever-endingnews treadmillmissing a “stop” button. But late in the first quarter of 2020, like everywhere else, that button appeared and was pushed, bringing the manufacturing technology sector to a halt. The subsequent recovery in the following 21 months led to the most active investment period on record for robotics, additive manufacturing, and the surrounding industrial software ecosystem. Evaluating the past, present, and future of an emerging manufacturing technology category benefits most from analyzing leading indicators whenever possible. In high-growth technologies or industries, financial investments and acquisitions are announced publicly within days or weeks and often include dollar amounts. The investment announcements,