Virksomhedsorienteret teknologisk fremsyn. Rapport fra forprojektet Teknologi og Virksomhed i Fremtiden

The main outcome of this preparatory project is a detailed project description for a firm oriented technology foresight project in Denmark. The overall aim of the suggested project is to contribute to the competitive advantage of companies based ontechnology and science. Furthermore, the project aims at strengthening the societal interest for technology.

The suggested project has three parts. Part one is a technology foresight in each of the three sectors: cooling/refrigerating, food ingredientsand plastic. The suggested process for each of these foresight processes has five phases: 1) Initial mapping of the areas of technology and business sector in quest and initial nomination of knowledgeable persons and experts and these areas. 2) Listing oftrends and issues of critical interest. 3) Delphi surveys.4) Scenarios. 5) Dissemination of the projects general results.

Part two comprises implementation of the general results in selected firms. This can be done trough a tradi-tional scenario processlinked to the firm's strategy process. Such a phase is seldom included in traditional national foresight programmes, but is perceived as of paramount importance in an industry oriented foresight project.

Part three comprises systematic collection ofexperiences and anchoring of these experiences in ongoing research in strategy and research management. Based on this a road map for industry oriented technology foresight can be made. An important outcome of this preparatory project is the acquiredknowledge on technology foresight in the Technology Scenarios research programme at Risø.

The study of the international experiences, the considera-tions on the pre-conditions for technology foresight in a Danish context and the quite detailedconsiderations on how to plan a foresight project have made the Technology Scenarios research programme well-equipped to carry out foresight projects.

These experiences have been utilised in a foresight project on sensor technology.