Title: A regional foresight process to cope with demographic change: future radar 2030 (Zukunftsradar 2030)

Authors: Kerstin Cuhls; Heinz Kolz; Christoph M. Hadnagy

Addresses: Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, Breslauer Str. 48, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany; University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany ' Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, Breslauer Str. 48, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany; University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany ' Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, Breslauer Str. 48, 76139 Karlsruhe, Germany; University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany

Abstract: This article describes a foresight process that addresses social change and its impacts. Future Radar 2030 is a foresight process, in which tools from foresight are applied in order to work out scenarios and perform a survey. In combination with future workshops, the foresight process and its results have a direct impact on the stakeholders of a German federal state. It therefore has implications for society in general, but also on the innovation system. The article describes the background (demographic change) and the tools from forecasting and foresight that were combined to work out relevant issues. It argues that even a 'small' regional foresight activity has an impact and changes some path of thinking.

Keywords: scenarios; future initiatives; demographic change; regional competitiveness; Future Radar 2030; Zukunftsradar 2030; social change; surveys; future workshops; Germany; federal states; society; innovation systems; regional activities; regions; Rhineland Palatinate; foresight processes; forecasting; innovation policies; new trajectories.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2012.049779

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2012 Vol.8 No.4, pp.311 - 334

Published online: 21 Nov 2014 *

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