Pre-foresight integrative methodology for STI policy: Increasing coherence and impact

Abstract

One of the central objectives in foresight development is increasing its effectiveness and impact upon decision-making. This paper is focused on improving the link between foresight and science, technology, and innovation (STI) policy by overcoming the barriers that stand in the way at the very beginning of a foresight study. For this purpose, the key challenges for integrating foresight into STI policy are identified, summarized and systematized. They include challenges and barriers from the external environment, internal political situation and shortcomings in the planning and implementation of foresight. For deeper understanding the connection between foresight and STI policy three types of gaps between foresight and STI policy are considered. As the possible answer to these different challenges and gaps the pre-foresight integrative methodology for STI Policy is proposed. The practical case of the Russian foresight programme is used to illustrate challenges for integrating foresight into STI policy in the real practice and their possible solution accordingly to the proposed methodology.