"Tech Trend Radar 2026": The most important technology trends for insurers

Munich Re and ERGO have today published the "Tech Trend Radar 2026". The joint publication provides insurers with a compact overview of global, technology-driven developments that will shape the insurance industry in the coming years. For this year's report, around 25 trends were identified in the areas of "Data & AI", "Healthy Human", "Cyber & Crypto" and "Redefining Industries". The selected trends are considered to be the technologies with the greatest potential to have a lasting impact on the risk assessment, operational resilience and strategic decisions of insurance companies. These include "AI agents", "AI-augmented software engineering" or "world models" in the field of artificial intelligence, new digital health solutions, the concept of the "digital immune system" in cybersecurity and also "autonomous mobility" or "humanoid robotics" as developments that will change the risk landscape as a whole. The Tech Trend Radar helps to understand the key technological drivers for the insurance industry and to translate their economic implications into concrete decisions.

Martin Thormählen, Senior Programme Manager Group Technology & Lead Tech Trend Radar at Munich Re, says about the new Tech Trend Radar: "For insurers, the use of new technologies is always about balancing opportunities and risks – and this is where the Tech Trend Radar comes in. This year's edition, compiled with more than 30 experts from our Group, shows where technological change is already a reality and what course must now be set in the insurance industry. After all, the coming years will be characterised less by completely new technologies than by the transformation that is necessary to make effective use of existing technologies. The Tech Trend Radar is therefore not a prediction but a structured analysis that helps insurers to actively and responsibly shape this change – with people at the centre."

Daniel Grothues, Chief Architect Primary Insurance at ERGO Group AG, adds: "AI technologies in particular are already delivering significant added value for insurers. The focus is now on further expanding its use consistently and in a value-oriented manner along the entire value chain – from product development to risk assessment and claims processing through to customer service. This benefits customers as well as employees and companies themselves by strengthening their operational efficiency and resilience in the long term."

In the latest edition of the "Tech Trend Radar", Munich Re and ERGO also focus on two special topics: the "Mainframe Modernisation" chapter sheds light on how insurers can gradually transform their tried-and-tested core systems into a modern, flexible IT landscape. This is important in order to integrate digital applications, improve the customer experience and reduce operational risks. The "Operational Technology Cyberattacks" chapter addresses the growing risk of cyberattacks on networked control and industrial systems, which can jeopardise business processes, material assets and, in the case of critical infrastructures, entire regions or industries.