5 CHINA
Automation for the ageing population
Companies such as JD . com have been expanding automation capacity as part of a trend widely associated with the needs of Chinese businesses to make themselves more resilient in the face of a declining birth rate . China ’ s total labour force is projected to decline by 13 per cent over the next 20 years .
4
GERMANY Volocopter ’ s eVTOL craft
Volocopter has unveiled the VoloConnect . This electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft ( eVTOL ) differs from its existing offerings in that it is aimed at connecting suburbs to cities , rather than providing transport within a city . VoloConnect ’ s distinctive hybrid lift and push design is expected to achieve certification within the next 5 years . technologymagazine . com 17