New Book Explores Foresight in Innovation Policy and Management

Policymakers are increasingly turning to foresight techniques for guidance when addressing the wide array of problems and challenges arising in their work. A new book co-edited by Leonid Gokhberg, Dirk Meissner, and Alexander Sokolov from the HSE Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK), attempts to add another dimension – namely, opportunities – that can come from proper application of foresight techniques. Deploying Foresight for Policy and Strategy Makers: Creating Opportunities Through Public Policies and Corporate Strategies in Science, Technology and Innovation (Springer, 2016) features essays by more than a dozen scholars on various aspects of foresight application in today’s policy environment.

As Dirk Meissner, Deputy Head of Laboratory for Science and Technology Studies at HSE ISSEK says, 'this book is a valuable resource for researchers and scholars with an interest in foresight methods and gives practical hints for policymakers and managers to take account of the grand opportunities in their business and policy strategies’, said Meissner in a recent interview with the HSE news service. ‘One practical approach for convincing and engaging actors at different levels is to stress opportunities which offer advantages to each of them, instead of just focusing on challenges and problems’.

One key feature of the book is its emphasis on the need to consider regional and national dimensions when applying foresight techniques.

‘The authors present foresight approaches for innovation policy and management, and future developments in fields such as education, energy, new materials, nanotechnologies are highlighted for different countries’, Meissner said. ‘Not only national but also regional and local actors need to be involved – and they need to be involved not only in the implementation of policy but at much earlier stages in the foresight and subsequent design procedures of the policy mix’.

Intended primarily for policymakers in ministries of education and science, funding agencies, and companies responsible for foresight and innovation policy, this book supports development of a consistent and coherent anticipatory policy mix to ensure timely development and implementation of various forward-looking policy instruments.

Upcoming books on foresight

1.     Gokhberg, Leonid, Shmatko, Natalia, Auriol, Laudeline (Eds.), The Science and Technology Labor Force - The Value of Doctorate Holders and Development of Professional Careers. Springer, Heidelberg/ New York/ Dordrecht/ London 2016

2.     Miles, Ian, Saritas, Ozcan, Sokolov, Alexander, Foresight for Science, Technology and Innovation. Springer, Heidelberg/ New York/ Dordrecht/ London. 2016