Launch of Foresight platform "futures4europe"

The European Commission (DG RTD) announced the launch of „futures4europe“, a platform aimed to facilitate engagement with strategic foresight activities towards a Research and Innovation (R&I) foresight community. It brings together foresight experts and R&I policy-makers from across the EU, collecting national and European foresight projects and promoting futures literacy through educational material and relevant newsletters.

With a view to supporting the reflection towards for the next Framework Programme, the platform provided 8 foresight policy briefs that have now been published by the Commission. This includes Futures of science for policy in Europe:

The policy brief explores key trends for the future of science for policy in Europe and the challenges and opportunities they present for the development of science for policy ecosystems in the European Union. Against the backdrop of an increasing prominence of science in public debates and a growing willingness of governments to mobilise scientific advice, the policy brief examines trends shaping the practices and processes of information exchange between knowledge actors and policy makers with the intention of developing science-informed policies in Europe and outlines key challenges and opportunities for science-for-policy ecosystems in the EU.

• Futures of innovation and intellectual property regulation in 2040
• Futures of big tech in Europe
• Futures of science for policy in Europe
• Futures of using nature in rural and marine Europe in 2050
• Futures of green skills and jobs in Europe in 2050
• Futures of social confrontations and effects on European democracies 2040
• Futures of civic resilience in Europe, 2040
• Futures of the interpenetration of criminal and lawful economic activities in the European Union in 2035

The policy briefs have used scenarios to develop policy recommendations for R&I policy-makers in the EU and its Member States.

Source: EU commission