75% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. This increased urbanization will lead to more megacities with populations of ten million or more. At the same time, it calls for concepts for ecological cities with multifunctional and energy-self-sufficient buildings, as well as urban, inner-city agriculture, and new mobility models to cope with traffic. People use and share products via rental platforms, which are available on all devices in everyday digital life, as a matter of course. Furthermore, a distinct development towards a more conscious, sustainable lifestyle is emerging within society. Consumers are increasingly demanding environmentally friendly products and corporate social responsibility. In the future, successful products must support a healthy environment in addition to performing the promised function. Companies will commit to ethical manufacturing – European producers in particular can set standards in this area. They should not only ensure that all steps of production are safe and efficient, but also that employees are treated with respect: with well-balanced working hours, adequate remuneration, and comprehensive occupational safety and health. In addition, increasing automation will also have a huge impact on the labor market. The traditional knowledge-based society is changing: knowledge is being replaced by skills, so experience and practical applications are becoming increasingly important. Future software systems can not only take on tasks in manufacturing or logistics, but also knowledge-centered tasks, for example in business administration or engineering.