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Front Page > National Foresight Network
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National Foresight Network |
Finnish society and its operating environment are changing rapidly. The transformation of the global economy, rapid technological development and changes in people’s everyday life are challenging the Finnish society to renew itself. The uncertainty inherent in change emphasises the significance of anticipation in decision-making.
The National Foresight Network brings together Finnish foresight experts and decision-makers. Thanks to the network, the challenges facing Finnish society and its operating environment will be brought forth to policymakers and public debate as well as subjected to closer examination and innovation activities more rapidly than before. This promotes long-term perspective in Finnish decision-making while improving society’s ability to structurally renew itself.
The operative model and the themes of the Foresight NetworkThe Foresight Network has two primary operative models:
1. theme groups gather together experts to recognise significant forces of change with regard to the future of Finland
2. the Foresight.fi website launched in the autumn 2008 gathers together foresight information from Finland and abroad
It is expected that significant forces of change pertaining to Finnish society will arise from the subject areas of the theme groups. For example, in 2006 the subject areas covered in the theme groups included welfare and everyday life, the future of working life, the public sector, multiculturalism and the environment. The themes in 2007 included innovation activities and policies, and the environment and energy.
The subject areas for 2008 included the Internet and new forms of interaction, the future of business activities, mental health and intellectual capital, learning and education, and the role and tasks of the public sector. In addition, an expert group assembled to chart the changes in Finns' well-being.
In 2009, signals will be collected and analysed twice. Two theme workshops will be organised: Downshifting (responsible choices) and the Internet Generation. A seminar is being planned for the autumn.
The very best Finnish foresight experts and decision-makers from both the public and private sectors, the research community, and NGOs will be invited to join the theme groups. The theme groups define the focus areas for their work in the first workshop. After this, the focus areas will be discussed in specially-dedicated workshops.
The close workshop-like approach enables the creation of new innovative perspectives. In this way, it is possible to recognise uncertain development trends and weak signals as well as to outline their societal effects. The workshop process also gives rise to new kinds of shared understanding and personal networks, which link together people from various sectors.
The workshops will draw up a summary of their work, which defines the key challenges and opportunities as well as recognises practical measures to answer them. The Foresight.fi website will make the results available to all the interested parties. In addition, the results will be communicated straight to the key decision-makers in the theme of the workshop.
On the basis of preliminary results, Sitra may also launch further research, organise new workshops or strategy processes with key stakeholders or launch the preparation of future programme ideas. In this way, the National Foresight Network intermediates between foresight professionals and Finnish decision-makers.
Foresight.fi website The Foresight.fi website was launched at the end of 2008. The website will gather together foresight information and other interesting foresight-related materials from domestic and foreign sources. In addition, the website will present the work of the theme groups, list the contact and project information of foresight organisations and offer news items relating to the anticipation of the future.
Dialogue is key to the website. The network members and other interested individuals can participate in the discussion on foresight themes they find interesting. This openness also makes it easier for other groups (for example, enterprises and regional developers) to participate in the activities of the Foresight Network.
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Nieminen-Sundell Riitta, Advisor, phone + 358 9 6189 9287
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