Making and implementing foresight policy to engage the academic community: health and life scientists’ involvement in, and response to, development of the UK’s technology foresight programme

Abstract

Successful implementation of research policy that is intended to impinge, at least partially, on universities often requires the engagement of the academic community. This article provides a detailed analysis of the formulation and operationalisation of the technology foresight programme in the UK, particularly in relation to the health and life sciences (HLS). The background and objectives of the policy are scrutinised, as well as the attempts to implement it through specifically created structures in addition to existing research and funding councils. Such an investigation enables a thorough assessment to be made of the academic response to technology foresight. The analysis also reveals: the mixed government objectives for science policy; the practical problems created by the size of the HLS field and the comparatively small amount of resources put behind the policy. Consequently, despite the careful policy analysis and the commitment of some academics to the policy development and implementation, the conclusion reached is that the further down the system one looks the more limited the response from the academic community.