Title: Understanding technology foresight: the relevance of its S&T policy context [1]

Authors: Luis Sanz-Menendez, Cecilia Cabello, Clara Eugenia Garcia

Addresses: CSIC Institute for Advanced Social Studies, Research Unit on Science and Technology Policy (RUSTEP), c/Alfonso XII 18, E-28014, Madrid, Spain. CSIC Institute for Advanced Social Studies, Research Unit on Science and Technology Policy (RUSTEP), c/Alfonso XII 18, E-28014, Madrid, Spain. Carlos III University of Madrid, Department of Business Administration, c/Madrid 126, E-28903 Getafe, Madrid, Spain

Abstract: Recently Technology Foresight (TF) exercises promoted by governments are spreading all over Europe However the forms that TF takes within each country are very diverse. First, in order to understand the importance of the policy context, as an example, we will explain the ||fate and fortune|| of foresight in Spain in relation to the attempts to bring it into the science and technology (S&T) policy agenda and will analyse the institutional constraints over the development of TF. The second part of this paper is related to the extent in which TF is a useful tool for policy making. We will enlighten the analysis with the use of the theory of decision making, especially by reflecting on the role of the information emerging from TF as legitimation for policy makers, but more importantly on the promising use of TF for coordination within national innovation systems.

Keywords: technology foresight; science and technology policy; Spain; policy legitimation; information and decision making.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2001.002942

International Journal of Technology Management, 2001 Vol.21 No.7/8, pp.661-679

Published online: 08 Jul 2003 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article