UNIDO Technology Foresight Initiative in the Central Eastern Europe and NIS

The Central and Eastern European countries and Newly Independent States are increasingly adopting the application of technology foresight in their efforts to raise their innovation capability. The following countries are conducting formal foresight exercises: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey and Slovakia. Most of the other countries in the region are engaged in capacity building on foresight and preparing the application of foresight in their policy making.

On the basis of the recommendations at the Regional Conference on Technology Foresight for CEE/NIS (4-5 April 2001, Vienna) and the Technology Foresight Summits 2003 (27-29 March 2003, Budapest) and 2007 (27-29 September 2007, Budapest), recommendations of the Steering Committee of the Eurasian Virtual Center (EVC) for CEE/NIS, as well as the decision of the 25th session of the Industrial Development Board (resolution IDB.25/Dec.3), UNIDO is implementing a Regional Initiative for Technology Foresight in CEE and NIS. An overall picture of the activities of the Regional

This regional initiative aims at responding to the Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States need for a mid- and long-term development vision of the region as well as for bringing a more technology-oriented focus into the relevant national and regional knowledge-based institutions. The regional initiative has been instrumental to provide assistance to economies in transition for a more sustainable and innovative development aiming at fostering economic, environmental and social benefits at national and regional levels. One important component of the regional initiative is the establishment of a focused capacity in treating, storing and disseminating information through modern electronic facilities and internet connections.

DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

The regional technology foresight initiative assists countries with economies in transition. The aim is to provide more sustainable and innovative development, fostering economic, environmental and social benefits at national and regional levels. The regional initiative aims to develop policies and R&D programmes that deal with innovation, industrial growth and competitiveness.

IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES

• to raise awareness of the critical importance of technology foresight for improving the competitiveness of industry by exploiting emerging and future trends in science and technology;
• to develop and adapt methodologies and tools for technology foresight in the region;
• to establish and strengthen national and regional knowledge as well as the capability of using technology foresight for designing policies and strategies that focus on innovation;
•  to undertake regional studies for specific sectors or themes;
•  to provide solutions to relevant problems in the region that can be addressed through the appropriate application of technology. Special attention will be given to pre-accession and late-accession countries to the European Union.