FARHORIZON · Use of Foresight to Align Research with Longer Term Policy Needs in Europe

The aim of this project is to pilot the use of foresight to align strategic and applied research with longer-term policy needs in Europe. It addresses a perceived gap in alignment under present arrangements and also argues that to develop, the European system needs a more content-oriented approach. It seeks to advance knowledge on: 1) Differences across policy domains in the European Research and Innovation Ecosystem (also further articulating this concept) in terms of the role and the integration of research agendas in long-term policies and vice-versa; and 2) Appropriate foresight designs needed to get engagement and secure follow-up across policy domains/areas. The project seeks to produce immediately useful results by selecting areas and participants with a view to stimulating action. Four areas with different sectoral characteristics will be selected with the advice of an independent panel to ensure that the pilot covers a range of circumstances. Success scenario workshops will be used to engage policymakers and those responsible for research. The methodology involves consideration of key drivers and wildcards to produce a vision of success, This is compared with the ability of the research and innovation ecosystem in the area to deliver and a roadmap for change is produced. A policy conference will be used to consider the outcomes and to disseminate the approach to other policy domains.