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Knowledge4Policy
Knowledge for policy
Supporting policy with scientific evidence

We mobilise people and resources to create, curate, make sense of and use knowledge to inform policymaking across Europe.

Future-oriented Policymaking

The project aims to support foresight capacity building in EU Member States and to integrate future-oriented thinking into decision-making

Foresight

Brief me

classroom

Harnessing Foresight for Future-Oriented Policymaking is an ongoing joint project by the European Commission Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM) and the EU Policy Lab of the Joint Research Centre.

The current world - defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), requires decisionmakers to sharpen their capacity to look ahead, think and work in a proactive, systemic and creative way, amongst others by using foresight.

The project supports foresight capacity building in EU Member States and integrating future-oriented thinking into decision-making. It underpins the implementation of the ComPAct - Enhancing the European Administrative Space and its ʺPublic Administration Skills Agendaʺ pillar. Through this pillar the Commission aims to support EU Member States in their efforts to build resilient, attractive, transparent, and high performing public administrations by equipping them with a wide range of tools to upskill and reskill their workforce.

Future-oriented Policymaking - project actions:

  • Create tools for capacity building of Member States’ public administrations at national, regional and local levels for future-oriented policymaking

  • Stimulate dynamic, enhanced cooperation among public administrations on integrating foresight in policymaking

  • Promote a future-oriented policymaking culture in the EU and its Member States

The main deliverables will include:

  • Online training series for policymakers in EU Member States (which will become available on EU  Academy)

  • Adaptable pathways toolkit to embed foresight in policymaking

  • Community building elements

    Timeline for the deliverables
How can you get involved?

The success of the FOP project depends on the active participation of policymakers, practitioners, and citizens. Whether you are an experienced foresight practitioner or entirely new to the concept, we welcome your insights.

  • Share your story or join teh beta-testing group: What has worked well in your context? What challenges have you faced? How can we make foresight more relevant to your needs? Reach out at JRC-foresight@ec.europa.eu  
  • Take our survey: Help us understand your needs and shape the final deliverables.

> Survey 

 

Stay tuned for the updates on this page! 

 

Read our blog

If, in the meantime, you already want to explore the future, check out our TED-ED Future Forward  lessons. With the help of short animations, you will be guided through different topics explaining futures thinking. Interesting for people of all ages, including policy makers. 

See also our comprehensive Foresight training package for EU policymakers, which is designed to inspire innovative thinking, provide applied knowledge on foresight through progressive learning pathways, and offer tailored guidance for policy departments in their specified foresight journeys. 

Latest knowledge from this Project