Were we the students of the future yesterday?

Thank you to all the latest creators, futurists, designers, artists, innovators, writers, bureaucrats, psychologists, innovation leaders, professors, public sector change agents, business leaders, students - 120 people from many different countries who participated in our workshop. Everyone with an interest in thinking beyond the next improvement of today, in addition to the next business idea, the next innovation in the public sector, the next research findings.

For 2 hours we heard how some of the world's foremost in this strange field that we can call experienced futures think about futures. Elliott began by briefly describing what his view of what the field is but then went on to describe what it is not according to him. Futures are not singular, linear, predictable, evenly distributed, universal, extremes. Much like in a negative form where you focus on the background to make the object appear.

Then it was the mentors' turn. That is, the mentors who during the year will follow and give their support to each project. In addition to presenting themselves, they also told about their views on the future by imagining how they had hypothetically applied (or built) in the call - what would their hypothetical outline look like and how do they justify their outline? They have produced the sketches in about a couple of hours - completely according to our instructions. I am so impressed that they accepted the challenge. Imagine the courage, as an internationally recognized expert, to dare to throw out such an unfinished idea for large parts of Sweden's community in the field.

Below are some of the mentors' thoughts:

Radha Mistry imagined an eco-terrarium, "serenities", as a kind of bubbles for contemplation for plants and people - an element of the cityscape that offers respite from noise and pollution in a climate-deteriorating future. The bubbles may be in what are today parks - maybe Rålambshovsparken? And offers closeness to nature and plants that give us oxygen and beauty. At the same time, humans give the plants carbon dioxide when users engage in dialogues with each other within and between the bubbles. Which companies or organizations create these bubbles that offer nature experiences? Are they free for everyone? Do they rent out? What technology do they require? Do they succeed in maintaining the remnants of biodiversity? Do they offer environments and plants from all over the world? Maybe from a bygone world? What eco-services do they collaborate with? Is that how we want to hang out?

Thomas Thwaites talked about sustainable products. In the future, we may be able to find materials and production processes that help us continue to live as we do today, albeit more and better and bigger, by developing our growth in a sustainable way. But what if this is not possible? What if we are forced to give up the lifestyle we have today? If so, what does the shop window of the future look like? He could imagine how to market simpler products than today - with slightly fewer functions, poorer convenience and instead lift and market other values. For me, it triggers the idea of new business models, new values that a sustainable business community can provide us with in such a future. Can we create as many jobs for these? Do we work the same amount? What kind of job do we have? Do we as consumers get the same amount for our money? What does the entire global food chain look like and what will be the situation for people in other countries?

I'm already halfway into the kind of discussions we want to create - but between people and not just in my own head. And not based on a story or a report but on an experience of fragments of such a future. I imagine that an experience will generate more, richer, better problematized, more creative discussions and thoughts in many more. And who knows - maybe these can lead to bolder, more informed decisions among business leaders, consumers, managers, families, politicians, negotiators, voters, residents and not least inspire meaningful, courageous innovation projects - innovation that makes a difference.

Different but equally mindblowing sketchy performances were presented in 3 minutes each by two other mentors Paolo Cardini, Christopher Lutterodt-Quarcoo, J. Paul Neeley, Sitraka Rakotoniaina and Carolyn Kirschner. We hope to return to this blog with some more of their ideas and ways of looking to the future.

Still, I was most impressed by all the wise questions, posts and comments from so many committed participants in the meeting and in the outbreak sessions. Perhaps these were the questions and input that offered us from Vinnova the biggest learning yesterday. How do we manage to adapt and tweak the investment now that we have learned more at the same time as we are a public authority with frameworks to relate to? Frameworks set by democratic rules and principles - what we all at Vinnova hold so high and what we all most of all appreciate these days. Help us at Vinnova continue to explore together and still maintain respect for our raison d'être. We look forward to your sketchy sketches. We want to learn.