ForeIntegra-RI is one year FP6 SSA-project of European coverage aiming at integrating Foresight in Research Infrastructures (RI) policy formulation through piloting its studies in the Agri Food and Biotechnology RI domain. The project strategic objective is to contribute to the development of RIs of European interest by eliciting strategic future outlooks and mobilizing wide stakeholder groups as a prerequisite for sustainable long-term RI policy.

Specific project objectives

• Conducting Desk Research focused on the recent approaches in AgriFood and Biotech RI policy formulation deployed by the target countries and the previous/recent foresight activities in the RI area selected
• Conducting pilot foresight exercise in the AgriFood and Biotech RI area through Success Scenario Workshop
• Elaboration of Policy Recommendations for more extensive use of Foresight in RI
• Developing Guidelines for conducting further foresight initiatives for RI

Target countries

The project targets the:

• 10 New Member States – Czech Republic, Cyprus, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia
• 2 Acceded countries - Bulgaria, Romania
• Associated Candidate Country – Turkey

These countries are supposed to have significant impact on building expanded research infrastructures throughout the enlarging EU and contributing to structuring the European Research Area.

Selected EU15 Member States are addressed in the desk research and mapping activities since they could contribute to the project’s ultimate goal of scoping foresight guidelines through providing information on good practices in RI.

The project’s concept implies strong interaction between the project consortium and:

• the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)
• the Standing Committee of Agricultural Research (SCAR Committee)
• the European Research Advisory Board (EURAB)
• the European Agricultural Research Initiative ( EURAGRI)
• the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) of JRC, and
• theEuropean Foresight Monitoring Network (EFMN).

Consortium partners

Applied Research and Communications Fund (ARC Fund), Bulgaria

Short description: utilizes modern and contemporary policy tools ensuring neutral platforms for coalition-building and public policy consensus. It introduced Foresight in two candidate countries through the launch and implementation of the pilot ForeTech project – Technology and Innovation Foresight for Bulgaria and Romania. Two pilot foresight exercises were implemented in Bulgaria within its framework resulting in a number of 2015 scenarios along with policy measures recommendations for enhancing R&D at national and European levels..

Role: coordinator

PREST, University of Manchester (PREST UNIMAN), UK

Short description: carries out research and postgraduate teaching on the economic, political, social and managerial problems that affect or result from the development of science and technology. PREST areas of specialisation include evaluation of government and EU-sponsored R&D, research on science and technology policy, theoretical and empirical studies of innovation, and p rospective studies.

Role: partner

Institute of Economics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (IE HAS), Hungary

Short description: has focused increasingly on the analysis of the contemporary market economy and the transformation of the Hungarian economy. The findings of the research programmes of the Institute are of regular use by the Hungarian policy-making bodies and universities. It puts a strong emphasis on promoting academic cooperation with other Hungarian and European research centres. It also considers as a priority to develop close links with university departments and to take part in the training of the new generation of researchers.

Role: partner

Stages of Project Implementation



(This stage starts with collecting existing mapping data on RI in the domain selected, goes through identification of key trends and issues as well as their projection into outlooks over the coming 10-15 years, and ends up with assessment and prioritization of the drivers in terms of importance, impact and uncertainty)

Main outcomes:

• Desk research focused on:
• recent approaches in AgriFood and Biotech RI policy formulation deployed by target countries
• previous/recent foresight activities in the RI area selected
• Baseline report with summarized information

(The workshop’s objective is to come up with a feasible success scenario of 10-15 years ahead in the pilot RI domain selected along with a basic policy roadmap.)

Main outcomes:

• Key drivers identified and prioritized by expert panel – PREST On-line Workshop
• Success scenarioelaborated by expert panel - plausible vision on AgriFood and Biotech RI in10-15 years time horizon

(Elaboration of policy recommendations for making more extensive use of Foresight in this area and establishment of permanent horizon scanning. It involves elaboration of Guidelines to Foresight in RIs of European significance – guidelines applicable to those research areas of RIs, which have the potential to keep pace with the rapidly advancing research developments.)

Main outcomes:

• Guidelines to Foresight in RI for providing methodological support to future studies in FP7
• Policy recommendations for extensive use of foresight in RI policy formulation
• Meeting of Task Force in Brussels for validation of the project results with the Commission
  

Contacts:

Applied Research and Communications Fund 5, Alexander Zhendov St. 1113, Sofia, BULGARIA tel.: +359 (2) 973 3000 fax: +359 (2) 973 3588

Mrs. Daniela Tchonkova – coordinator daniela.tchonkova(at)online(dot)bg Ms. Maria Alexandrova – project officer maria.alexandrova(at)online(dot)bg Ms. Denitsa Marinova - project officer denitsa.marinova(at)online(dot)bg