Title: Assessing the impact of the UK's evolving national foresight programme

Authors: Luke Georghiou, Michael Keenan, Ian Miles

Addresses: Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (PREST), Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. ' Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (PREST), Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. ' Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (PREST), Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

Abstract: The paper describes the evolution of the UK|s National Foresight Programme through its three cycles of existence. It assesses the impacts of each stage, the first two in brief and the third in some detail, drawing upon a recently completed evaluation by PREST. Evolution is noted from an exercise aiming to set priorities and build networks as a broad instrument of science and innovation policy to a set of science-based discrete projects reaching across government. Questions are raised concerning how the programme has reacted (or not) to evaluation, and what lessons there are from the present stage.

Keywords: national foresight programmes; impact; evaluation; UK; United Kingdom; evolution; science policy; innovation policy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2010.032670

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2010 Vol.6 No.1/2/3, pp.131 - 150

Published online: 11 Apr 2010 *

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