In the 20th century, science and technology was aimed at contributing to economic development and growth. In the 21st century, though, it must seek to promote sustainable development.

Until the 1973 global oil crunch, the slogan for technological advancement was "bigger, faster and stronger," as exemplified by the jumbo jet and the Concorde supersonic jet. In the last quarter of the 20th century, the focus of technical development shifted to "more fuel-efficient and more cost-efficient" equipment. This trend was enhanced by global environmental problems that emerged in the 1990s.

Generally speaking, technical innovation is driven by constraints and shortages. There are two meanings to the phrase "The 21st century is a century of the environment": Global environmental problems are likely to become more serious, and environmental constraints are expected to drive technical innovations.