Day in and day out, we have a front-row view of how technology changes how we live, work, and travel. These advancements not only show us which countries are “ahead of the game” in technology, but they also reveal which countries are quickly progressing toward a more sustainable future.

From the environment to transportation to the workplace, we heavily rely on rapidly changing technology to make our lives more convenient and to create a promising planet for generations to come. So, where do we find these technological advancements that are changing the world for the better?

Read on to see our countdown list of the top seven most technologically-forward countries in the world.

#6 – China

As the oldest civilization on Earth, China has transformed from a third-world developing country to the second largest economy in just 4 decades.

But China didn’t rely on their own innovation at first; instead, they focused on manufacturing other countries’ innovations—earning them a reputation as a “global copycat.”

Now faced with an aging population and a smaller young workforce, China has shifted to rely on their own innovation to advance its communities, infrastructure, and people as a whole. Here are some of the advancements that put China on our list.

• 5G: China is a world leader in 5G with continued commitment to updating their telecom infrastructure.

• HSR (high speed rail) Technology: China is working toward more autonomous train operations like their current 108 mile-long high-speed railway between Beijing and Zhangjiakou that reaches 220 mph.

• Artificial Intelligence: China uses face recognition-enabled ticket checking machines at railway stations across the country.

• Space: China has constructed and launched their own satellites, crewed spacecrafts, and space probes. By the end of 2022, China will complete their space station through sending crewed flights of taikonauts into orbit.

#5 – United States

Las Vegas’ shining lights and the epicenter of entertainment in Los Angeles’ are just a couple of reasons why the United States has the largest economy in the world.

U.S. innovation and technology have also steadily built this economy over the decades. In fact, the U.S. tech market accounts for 37% of the global market in the tech industry. Here are some of the notable ways the United States is advancing technology:

• Robots on Mars: The U.S. uses robots on Mars to help scientists analyze if or how the planet could sustain human life. These robots collect information about Mars’ soil, weather, atmospheric pressure changes, and more.

• Military Technology: The U.S. has increased spending on military robots. At Tyndall Airforce Base in Florida, robotic dogs  can climb stairs, be submerged in water and can (of course) stay awake 24/7. Additionally, the Department of Defense has released a strategy for the military to use 3D printing that can enhance innovation, modernize systems, and increase readiness.

• Electric Vehicles: California-based Tesla has the largest market share globally among electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. In 2021, Tesla sold more electric cars than any other electric vehicle manufacturer worldwide.

#4 – Denmark

When we think of Denmark, we likely first picture its Viking history or delicious pastries. This unsuspecting country is considered one the happiest countries in the world, but that’s not why it’s on our list.

Denmark is also ranked as one of the most digital-forward economies within the European Union.  Here are a few of Denmark’s important technological advancements:

• Programming: Some of the most-used programming languages were developed by Danish researchers, including C++, TurboPascal, and Visual Prolog.

• Software: Denmark attracts world-class software developers and software companies (IBM and Microsoft have hubs in Denmark). Denmark’s elite software developers work within the fields of security and cryptography, artificial intelligence, machine learning, algorithms, wireless network solutions, and robotics.

• Green Solutions: For decades, green energy has been a top priority in Denmark. Denmark continually develops and tests new energy solutions like wind power technology to tackle climate change and in turn, help other countries move faster toward green solutions. Currently, 50% of electricity in Denmark is supplied by wind and solar power.

#3 – Japan

From its bold fashion to famous cuisine, Japan’s distinct culture is unforgettable. Part of Japan’s modern culture is shaped by the fact that the country is a leader in electronics, science, and technology (Japan has a massive $130 billion USD budget for research in these fields). Let’s review why Japan is a top technology-forward country:

• Semiconductors: Semiconductors have recently been in high global demand after the Covid-19 pandemic. The New York Times explains how the Japanese government is tackling this through “investing billions of dollars in its domestic chip industry and providing enormous subsidies for joint ventures with companies from Taiwan, a crucial semiconductor supplier, and from the United States.” Japan is also working with allies to build a semiconductor supply chain that is less geographically dependent.

• Robotics: Robotics shows up everywhere in Japan, including robot farming,  robot hotel staff, disaster rescue operations, and industrial manufacturing.

• Fugaku: This A.I.- driven supercomputer will help more accurately predict weather patterns and plot evacuation routes through an earthquake or tsunami simulation. Fugaku may also run simulations to better anticipate biological risks and disease.

#2 – South Korea

After the Korean war, South Korea was one of the world’s poorest countries in the 1960s. Today, it is one of the richest. Do you recognize the words kimchi, K-pop, and Samsung? Between its food, entertainment, and technology, South Korea’s influence spreads across the globe.

South Korea consistently invests in innovative technologies like cloud security, 5G networks, and artificial intelligence. Read further about a few technology-forward fields in South Korea:

• Artificial Intelligence: South Korea recognized an engineering skills gap for experienced A.I. talent. As of 2022, the country’s government assigned ten local universities as engineering schools and four national universities as AI research centers. The country is also home to an increasing number of AI startup companies.

• 5G: South Korea was the first country to release 5G and leads the world in 5G coverage. Samsung and LG, two of the world’s leading 5G electronics companies, are South-Korea based.

• Patent Applications: South Korea leads the number of patent filings per GDP, indicating  its commitment to research and development, as well as continuing to lead the word in innovation.

#1- Singapore

Despite Singapore’s size as one of the smallest countries in the world, it is a prosperous and technologically advanced Information and Communications Technology (ICT) market. Technology companies such as Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Salesforce built headquarters inSingapore due to its developed IT infrastructure,  intellectual property protection, and a strong tech talent pool.

Furthermore, Singapore was the first country to make self-driving cars a reality. Here are some tech-forward reasons why Singapore tops our list:

• Smart Nation: Singapore created a government-sponsored Smart Nation program that uses technology to transform health, transport, urban living, government services, and businesses. Some of the Smart Nation initiatives involve Smart Towns, drones to fight Dengue hotspots, and a HealthHub platform.

• Police Technology: Singapore introduced special drones to use in police aerial searches for detecting criminal activity. They’ve also developed ground surveillance robots that can be used for detecting suspicious activity during special events or in remote areas surveillance where it’s difficult for humans to carry out.

• Recycled Solar Panels: Solar panels have a limited lifespan of 30 years, leading to increased global waste as use of solar energy increases. A team of scientists from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) developed technology that takes old solar panels and turns them into a new high-performance energy-harvesting thermoelectric material, which uses heat to convert into electricity.