Transformation of Foresight Method into a Multi-Purpose Tool of Managing Long-Term Development
Nowadays foresight method is used worldwide to define priorities for national innovation system (NIS) actors, and to facilitate their implementation. However, potential effects of foresight seem to be more multifaceted.Studying evolution of foresight functions in time reveals that it has been most influenced by specifics of the countries who used foresight, by assessment of the accumulated foresight experience around the world, and also by new theoretical and methodological ideas.In the outcome contemporary foresight is aimed at identifying framework conditions (in which NIS actors can adapt to different future scenarios), eliminating gaps in information distribution, and at forming atmosphere of trust between NIS actors. Consequently, a degree of self-organization steadily rises within the system.The described understanding of foresight essence and effects allows to extend its sphere of application beyond the frames of S&T sphere, and to expand it to other significant directions of public policy.
Keywords: foresight, futures studies, national innovation system, long- term governance, innovation-based development
