The Foresight programme is based on an initiative by the Minister of Science, coordinated by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Information Technology and run in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labour. It was described as one of the steps for supporting innovation in a document entitled Pro-growth action plan for 2003-2004, passed by the Council of Ministers on 1 July 2003 and planned to begin in the 4th quarter of 2003.
Foresight is an undertaking that was in widespread use around the world in the 1990s aimed at identifying and assessing future needs, opportunities and threats related to social and economic development, and the preparation of appropriate foresighted steps in the area of science and technology. Both the foresight process itself and its results are used above all as a means of creating and then implementing state policy in regard to science, technology and innovation, and also as a tool for developing a culture in society of thinking about the future. The Foresight programme incorporates representatives of the public authorities, industry, non-governmental organisations, research organisations and society in an open and direction-based discussion regarding the future. This takes place in several ways, including in the form of panel discussions, target workshops, the Delphi method, discipline development scenarios and seminars. The foresight results inform decision-makers about new development trends, they help in the negotiation of growth scenarios and harmonisation of activities undertaken by social partners (the government, scientific and industrial circles, small and large business, and sectors of the economy), and provide assistance in determining the criteria for the financing of science and technology.
Foresight is a process of creating a culture in society of thinking about the future, a process in which scientists, engineers, and representatives of industry or public administration employees take part to define strategic directions of development in research and technology with the objective of bringing about the greatest possible economic and social benefits in the economy. Those participating in designing the Foresight determine the priority directions of research by jointly creating a vision of future achievements.
The contemporary definition of foresight covers the following activities:
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Indicating investment priorities in research and technological development by discovering potential opportunities. This applies to methods of determining priorities with the assistance of general programmes and their later application and implementation with the help of detailed sector programmes.
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Change in the orientation of science and the system of innovation. The situation of science not fulfilling the countrys needs is something encountered in practically all the countries of the former socialists block. This is a result of research potential being oriented towards those areas of industry that have ceased to be of key importance, and what is more are now in recession and requiring far-reaching restructuring (mining and the machine industry).
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Presenting the vitality of science and scientific research. Foresight is like a shop window demonstrating the technological achievements available, and estimating the possibilities for these achievements to be absorbed by industry.
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Introducing new elements to the debate on foresight. One can currently see a tendency of not only having experts involved in the process, but also employers and representatives of a variety of communities, e.g. youngsters, who in this way have a certain influence on the shaping of the states innovation policy.
The National Foresight Programme in Poland should bring about the steering of development of research and technology towards areas guaranteeing dynamic economic growth in the medium and long term, and rationalisation of public spending. The results of the National Foresight Programme should constitute the basis for the preparation of a National Development Plan for the years 2007-2013. In addition, the National Foresight Programme should create a language of social debate and a culture of building up a vision of thinking about the future, leading to the coordination of joint steps furthering economic growth and improvement in the standard of living in Poland.
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