(Yicai Global) June 27 -- The World Economic Forum (WEF) published the 'Top 10 Emerging Technologies 2017.' Breakthrough technologies such as extracting potable water from air and the "artificial leaf" technology that can transform carbon dioxide into fuels made it to the list.

The selections were made by the WEF in collaboration with the magazine Scientific American's Board of Advisors, with the primary criterion being whether the technology can play a role in tackling the world's most pressing challenges. The new technologies selected into the list all possess huge potential in improving life quality, promoting industrial transformation, and protecting global environment. The selection committee has also judged the maturity of the technologies selected to help promote them in the next three to five years.  

Murat Sönmez, the head of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Center at the WEF, said, "New technologies are redefining industries, blurring traditional boundaries and creating new opportunities on a scale never seen before. Public and private institutions must develop the correct policies, protocols and collaborations to allow such innovation to build a better future, while avoiding the risks that unchecked technological change could pose."

The top 10 emerging technologies include:

1. Non-invasive technique for cancer diagnosis: Ultrasensitive blood test, known as 'liquid biopsy', can significantly reduce the difficulty of cancer diagnosis and care.

2. Extracting drinking water from the air: To produce clean water using solar technology without access to power grid

3. Deep machine learning for "good eyesight": In front of an image, the artificial intelligence's ability to observe and analyze is beyond the reach of doctors and other human experts.

4. Artificial leaves: This technology can convert carbon dioxide into liquid fuels and other substances.

5. Human cell atlas: A joint international effort that aims to decipher the detailed functions of various types of cells in the human body.

6. Precision agriculture: In the process of crop growth, real-time data analysis is carried out through sensors and imaging techniques to increase agricultural output.

7. Inexpensive new energy vehicles: Reducing the amount of platinum used in fuel cell catalysts will help push hydrogen-powered vehicles to the mass market.

8. Gene vaccine: Non-protein vaccines synthesized by DNA or RNA can help raise the immunity of human body and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

9. Sustainable living community: The design of a green home is not just for a house fitted with solar panels. Designers want to connect the entire community's housing to create a sustainable energy-circulating and resource-sharing system.

10. Quantum computing: The development of this technology will provide strong support for solving new problems.

"Science is a global cause, with ambition and ability to solve the most pressing problems facing mankind. For more than 170 years, Scientific American has been providing authoritative accounts in the field of scientific progress. We are honored to work with the WEF to select the world's top 10 emerging technologies 2017 and reveal the far-reaching impact of these technologies on the world," said Mariette DiChristina, the editor-in-chief of Scientific American.

Themed with "Achieving inclusive growth in the fourth industrial revolution", the 'Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2017 of the WEF' will be held in Dalian, China, on June 27-29. The meeting will focus on discussions about the development of emerging technologies, particularly their role and significance in promoting inclusive and sustainable development.