Research Report

Global – September 18, 2026 -- More than two billion people worldwide live with skin disease, yet a new benchmark study finds over 80% of countries fall below the dermatologist density needed to meet demand, with 74% of nations reporting skin health is not a national government priority.

Global dermatologist density falls nearly half short of the new benchmark

The study, which supports implementation of the World Health Assembly's 2025 Resolution on Skin Diseases as a Global Public Health Priority, establishes the first evidence-based benchmark for adequate dermatology care. It finds a global average of 2.66 dermatologists per 100,000 people, against an estimated requirement of 5.63 per 100,000.

Arlington, Va. – September 18, 2026 -- Organizations that hand strategic S/4HANA migration decisions to implementation partners face higher risks of cost overruns, project delays, and outcomes misaligned with business priorities, according to new research from Info-Tech Research Group. The warning comes as SAP's end of mainstream maintenance for ECC in 2027 forces enterprises to finalize migration plans.

Info-Tech says implementation partners lack full business context for critical trade-offs

Info-Tech's Build Your S/4HANA Migration Plan blueprint states that while technical partners are essential for execution, they cannot determine organizational priorities, transformation goals, or acceptable trade-offs. These decisions influence deployment strategy, governance, and organizational change throughout the migration.

Windsor, Conn. – September 17, 2026 -- Nearly six in ten pre-retirees (59%) rate themselves highly prepared for retirement, yet 76% have either no written plan or spent fewer than five hours in the past year developing, reviewing, or updating one, according to LIMRA's 2026 Retirement Income Readiness Report.

Confidence outpaces action among workers nearing retirement

The survey found 88% of pre-retirees — defined as workers age 45 and older planning to retire within 10 years — say they have thought about how they'll generate income after leaving the workforce. But half (50%) either lack a written retirement plan or have one they haven't updated recently, exposing a gap between stated confidence and actual planning behavior.

Milwaukee – September 16, 2026 -- The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has released a whitepaper mapping how artificial intelligence is being embedded into agricultural machinery to help farmers manage rising operational pressures. The report, titled "AI in Agriculture Equipment: Supporting Productivity, Efficiency, and Decision-Making Through Technology," is now available on AEM's Insights & Resources page.

AEM defines three tiers of AI integration in farm machinery

The whitepaper categorizes AI deployment into Assist-Level AI, which supports operators through guidance systems, implement control and automated equipment functions while keeping humans in control; Advise-Level AI, which processes machine and operational data to generate recommendations; and Act-Level AI, which enables machines to execute tasks autonomously, including targeted spray applications and unmanned field operations.

Toronto – September 15, 2026 -- A new viewpoint paper published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research argues that GLP-1 weight-loss drugs fail long-term without paired digital behavioral coaching, citing high patient dropout and rapid weight regain as persistent industry problems. The paper, authored by Noom CEO Geoff Cook, introduces a "habit window hypothesis" and calls for a formal research agenda to test whether digital health apps can extend the durability of pharmacological weight loss.

Boston – September 15, 2026 -- Just 40% of organizations say they are effective at building sufficient bench strength for critical roles, according to a global survey of nearly 800 business and HR leaders by the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp).

Bench strength drives nearly 7x higher succession success

Organizations that excel at building bench strength are more than 2.5 times as likely to be high-performance organizations and nearly 7 times as likely to report successful succession outcomes, the study found. Yet the report, titled "The New Rules of Succession Management: A Blueprint for Future-Ready Organizations," concludes that many companies confuse succession activity—talent reviews, leadership programs, readiness plans—with actual leadership depth.

SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- June 9, 2026 -- Philips has released its Future Health Index 2026, the 11th edition of its annual global study, drawing on responses from more than 2,000 healthcare professionals and over 20,000 patients across 10 countries. The findings show that artificial intelligence already saves clinicians the equivalent of more than 16 working days each year and is helping many of them treat additional patients. At the same time, the report warns that inadequate training and fragmented IT infrastructure could leave some health systems behind. For hospital leaders and care providers, the results frame AI less as a future prospect and more as an operational tool already reshaping daily workloads.