In 2020, the Cowen Research TMT team identified edge cloud computing as a critical thematic for investors to monitor in a five-part, 300+ page Ahead of the Curve® Report series. We refresh our primer with a focus on framing opportunities in edge client devices and edge-enabled services. We also provide updates on what’s changed in edge cloud, as well as refreshed market forecasts demonstrating the magnitude of edge investments in hardware, software, & security.
Edge computing has come into focus for many companies in the last year, but our thesis has not changed – edge computing will be just as influential in this decade as cloud computing was in the last. This updated primer report serves as a jumping-off point for future work on edge-enabled verticals, including autonomous vehicles, robotics, communications infrastructure, and retail.