The global challenges are great, while societal development is accelerating. In order to be able to make the courageous decisions required - we need tools that can help us understand what lies ahead. A signal of a possible change - is something that is already happening today, but which can be a clue to the future - if we only listen carefully enough. The next step is to ask ourselves questions such as: "What type of change does this signal represent? In what direction is it taking us?" and "What trend or larger phenomenon is driving us in that direction?" Signal + driving force = foresight.
Foresight is an approach that gives us the power to help shape the future – and not just let it happen. It is not about predicting the future, no one can do that! It is about working with scenarios about the future based on the signals we see and the knowledge we have today. With their help, we can make more well-informed decisions.
Participating
Joakim Skog, moderator, Vinnova
Why Vinnova works with foresight
The global challenges are great, while societal development is accelerating. In order to be able to make the courageous decisions that are required, we need tools that can help us understand what lies ahead. In order to be able to handle changes and new challenges, Vinnova, just like other actors in the innovation system, needs to become better at understanding the future.
We want to explore how we as public authority can work with foresight, and how we can collaborate with other actors to get as much exchange as possible.