RCTT > Databases > Technology Foresight

Technology Foresight

Technology foresight is regarded as the key element of the technology development process in any social community. It provides the inputs for shaping technology policies and making the strategies to underlie the development of the technological infrastructure and worldwide integration in this sphere. Furthermore, technology foresight makes for development of novel technologies, provides support to innovation and fosters technology-advancing incentives and assistance to enterprises in the domain of technology management transfer, which finally leads to enhanced competitiveness and accelerated industrial growth.

Unlike the Technology Forecasting method, the Technology Foresight approach is not about delivering mere probabilistic predictions of the future technologies; nor it is about anticipating the impacts and effects of future technologies in the society (which is appropriate of Forecasting Assessment). Rather, Technology Foresight is a systematic process based on the analysis of the trends about science, technology, industry, economy and society development in the long run, with the purpose of identifying the technologies that can generate economic and social benefits – on an enterprise scale and on industry/sector level, as well as on a national and international basis.

The main objective of the introduced resource is to help preparing the Belarusian community for technology foresight surveys in the country. This section highlights the primary objectives, aims and goals, challenges and tools of technology foresight. Here one can find some information about the subject-related software used in technology foresight surveys; there is a certain piece of knowledge regarding the organization framework and management of technology foresight research, too.

Manual "Technology Foresight Survey. Why Would Belarus Need It?" (in Russian)

Reports and Presentations Made at the International Seminar on Technology Foresight for the Republic of Belarus
Belarus, Minsk, 27 March, 2009

Agenda of the seminar

Presentations:

А. Sokolov, Director of the Foresight Centre with the Higher School of Economics (Russia) "Technology Foresight Surveys in Russia. Theory and Practice"

A. Markov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Economics under the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus "Prospects for Application of the Technology Foresight Approaches in the System of Long-Term Development Planning in Belarus"

V. Goncharov, Head of the Department for Innovative Development of Economy, the Institute of Economics under the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus "Technology Foresight Surveys for the Republic of Belarus. Aims, Goals, Organizational Arrangements"

O. Kobyak, Deputy Director of the Minsk Research Institute of Socioeconomic Problems, A. Shablovskiy, Principal Researcher of the Institute of Language and Literature under the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus "Expert Pool Formation Principles for Technology Foresight Surveys in Belarus"

A. Uspenskiy, Director of the Republican Centre for Technology Transfer "Capacities of RCTT for Assistance in Preparing and Organizing the Technology Foresight Survey in Belarus"

Dr.-Ing. Ricardo Seidl da Fonseca, Pilar Rodriguez-Ruiz (UNIDO) "Foresight for developing countries and economies in transition"

Dr.-Ing. Ricardo Seidl da Fonseca (UNIDO) "UNIDO Technology Foresight Initiative"

Jack E. Smith (Director, S&T Foresight, Office of the National Science Advisor, Privy Council Office, Government of Canada) "Science and Technology Foresight: Provocateur for Innovation Policy?"

Mu Rongping, Ren Zhongbao (Institute of Policy and Management, Chinese Academy of Sciences) "Technology Foresight towards 2020 in China: the Practice and its Impacts"

Lectures on technology foresight delivered during the UNIDO-promoted training course “Technology Foresight for Organizers”
Gebze, Turkey, 20 – 24 November 2006

►

An Introduction to Foresight, Dr. Michael Keenan PREST, University of Manchester, UK

►

The Role of Foresight in Strategic Thinking and Policy Formation, Attila Havas Institute of Economics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences

►

Technology Policy, Innovation System and Technology Foresight, Dr.-Ing. Ricardo Seidl da Fonseca, INVESTMENT AND TECHNOLOGY PROMOTION BRANCH UNIDO

►

Some key elements of the Foresight process, Campbell WARDEN, European Association of Research Managers & Administration

►

Foresight in Policy cycles: case of Romania, Campbell WARDEN, European Association of Research Managers & Administration, Adrian CURAJ, Executive Agency for Higher Education and Research Funding – Romania

►

THE FUTURE OF THE FISHERY INDUSTRY. South American Pacific Coast, Dr.-Ing. Ricardo Seidl da Fonseca, INVESTMENT AND TECHNOLOGY PROMOTION BRANCH UNIDO