What is Swedish Technology Foresight?
Swedish Technology Foresight is a national project that seeks to bring together a large number of players from the knowledge community to discuss the best way of promoting long-term interplay between technical, economic, institutional and social processes. Technology Foresight can be described as an antenna aimed toward the future.

What is its aim?
The Technology Foresight project has aimed to create insights and visions about technological development in the long term (10 to 20 years) in order to identify worthwhile strategies in education, research and development to promote the development of Swedish society.

What are its objectives?
The objectives of Swedish Technology Foresight are:

• To strengthen a futures-oriented approach in companies and organizations
  
  
• To identify areas of expertise with potential for growth and renewal in Sweden
  
  
• To compile information and design processes for identifying high-priority areas in which Sweden should build expertise

Why is Swedish Technology Foresight needed?
Swedish Technology Foresight is expected to provide valuable contributions to long-term planning for companies and organizations, thereby playing an important role in the organization and dimensioning of Sweden's knowledge supply system.

How has the project been implemented?
Swedish Technology Foresight has gathered more than a hundred experts from different parts of society. They have worked in a multidisciplinary way in eight "Foresight sectors," backed up by reference groups. An Advisory Committee has also played a very important role. The Steering Committee has been headed by Arne Wittlöv. Lennart Lübeck has been the Program Manager.

What organizations are behind the project?
The project was runned by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), the Swedish National Board for Industrial and Technical Development (NUTEK), the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and the Federation of Swedish Industries. It has been conducted in close cooperation with the government, companies, public agencies and other interested parties.

Who is financing Swedish Technology Foresight?
The cost of Swedish Technology Foresight amounts to SEK 34,500,000 and is being financed by the Swedish National Board for Industrial and Technical Development (NUTEK), the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and the Swedish Government Offices.

The timetable
Swedish Technology Foresight has been implemented in stages and in close collaboration with companies, government ministries, public agencies and other interested parties. The main work of the project started in its full breadth in August 1998 and was concluded around the turn of the millennium.

How can I get more information on Swedish Technology Foresight?
If you want to make your opinions known or learn more about Swedish Technology Foresight, you can contact the following person directly:

• Lennart Lübeck, Program Manager
  tel: +46 8-791 29 87, fax: +46 8-611 56 23
  e-mail: lel@iva.se