National System of Science and Technology Foresight in Russia

Abstract

Foresight has become a widely used instrument for detecting challenges and opportunities countries are likely to face in the foreseeable future. Over the last decades it has developed from purely technology foresight towards a broader spectrum of themes covered including those related to societal and economic issues. This development in accordance with changing economic and technological frameworks imposes new challenges on national science, technology and innovation (STI) policies which need to find near time responses to anticipated changes. National science and technology (S&T) foresight systems are aimed at preparing evidence based anticipatory STI policy mixes, which enable countries to meeting future challenges. Such systems need to be flexible and well structured, include ongoing methodological progress and strongly support communication of a vast variety of stakeholders.