The exchange-traded funds will focus on global economic, social, technological and demographic themes expected to become more important over the coming decades.

BlackRock has launched four thematic exchange-traded funds offering European investors exposure to opportunities arising from the global trends of ageing population, healthcare innovation, robotics and automation, and digitalisation.

For the new range, BlackRock has collaborated with iSTOXX and FactSet to launch thematic indices. These are rules-based, systematic strategy indices built using proprietary databases. The underlying index for each fund will employ a revenue-focused methodology to ensure the most relevant companies for a given theme are consistently maintained. To avoid concentration risk, each index will hold at least 80 constituents.

The iShares Ageing Population UCITS ETF (AGED) will offer exposure to companies positioned to benefit from the growing needs of an older global population. Sectors it will invest in include health insurance and pharmaceuticals to financials, aged-care and consumer services.

The iShares Healthcare Innovation UCITS ETF (HEAL) will focus on companies focused on advancing specific aspects of the healthcare industry, such as drug treatments, patient care and diagnostic tools.

iShares Automation & Robotics UCITS ETF (RBOT) will focus on companies that are innovating across technologies, including manufacturing robotics and wearable technology.

Lastly, the iShares Digitalisation UCITS ETF (DGTL) will offer exposure to companies focusing on cybersecurity, electronic payment processes and financial technology. Indeed, investments in financial technology have soared from $1.8 billion in 2010 to $19 billion in 2015, according to Citi Global Perspectives.

“Research shows that the disruptive megatrends captured by the iSTOXX FactSet Thematic Indices will play a major role in the transition towards a digital, highly technological world that seeks to find alternatives to current healthcare approaches and effective solutions related to an increasing life expectancy,” said Matteo Andreetto, chief executive at STOXX.

The funds are physically replicating, meaning they buy the securities of the index, and each has a total expense ratio of 0.4 per cent.