Emerging trends in infrastructure 2021 Emerging trends in infrastructure 2021 Emerging trends in infrastructure 2021

Expect the infrastructure sector to emerge from the crisis with renewed vigour, fulfilling a key role as a catalyst to sustainable economic recovery. The year ahead will likely be characterised by growth, sustainability and resilience. And infrastructure will be its bedrock.

For the past ten years, the KPMG Global Infrastructure practice has offered our perspective of the top ten emerging infrastructure trends for the year. Many of the predictions we made at the start of 2020 have evolved as we expected – if anything, several have been accelerated by the impacts of the pandemic. Last year, we noted the need for increased resilience in infrastructure assets and networks; we warned of a further shift in the tides of globalisation; we forecasted an uptick in the pace of progress towards sustainability; and we predicted a reorganization of risk priorities. All of these trends have come to pass.

1. Uncertainty creates planning complexity
   How must infrastructure adapt in order to support potential new ways of living and working?
2. Cities rethink their value proposition
   How will cities adapt to evolving needs? The need for some form of reinvention is looming.
3. Borders become real again
   What is ahead for airport and port operators?
4. Infrastructure supply networks evolve
   Infrastructure developers will start to think more broadly about their supply strategies.
5. New finance floods the market
   A swell of new financing options are becoming available to infrastructure projects.
6. Toward a greener, fairer rebuild
   Society is calling for a greener, fairer and more sustainable rebuild of the world economy.
7. Resilience jumps up the agenda
   Asking the difficult questions about the resilience of infrastructure assets.
8. Delivering securely in a digital world
   Over the coming year, expect the focus on connectivity to sharpen significantly.
9. Government gets permission to transform
   Governments embrace their new-found ability to make radical change.
10. Governments look for partners
    Expect new partnerships ahead, driven by innovation.