Trend Governments institutionalize demand-driven strategic foresight

Summary

Demand for strategic futures research is rising quickly, and leading governments are building it into their policy systems rather than commissioning it ad hoc. The European Commission runs Foresight on Demand, in which policy units raise a future issue and receive scenarios, policy options and impact analysis at speed. Singapore's Centre for Strategic Futures, placed under the Prime Minister's Office, links horizon scanning, scenario development and strategic conversation to ministries' planning. Its Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning system integrates data-based signal detection with policy response. The author reads these cases as proof that futures research works when it is wired into the whole policy process, not merely when new methods are adopted. Futures research is thus turning from an optional tool into core infrastructure for policymaking.