Title: Intelligent piggybacking: a foresight policy tool for small catching-up economies

Authors: Marek Tiits; Tarmo Kalvet

Addresses: Institute of Baltic Studies, Lai 30, Tartu 51005, Estonia ' Ragnar Nurkse School of Innovation and Governance, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia tee 3, Tallinn 12618, Estonia

Abstract: Most of the modern foresight literature and practice have treated all economies as being largely the same. High-profile technology foresight activities, which have served as best practice models, describe possible future development scenarios or trajectories on the cutting edge of science and technology. Such a 'grand narratives' approach, while appropriate for advanced industrialised economies, is not suitable for small catching-up economies that should opt, instead, for an 'intelligent piggybacking' approach to foresight. This approach focuses on mapping global development trajectories and finding the possibilities for restructuring and upgrading existing technological and production capabilities. Recent foresight experiences in Estonia are discussed in light of the model proposed.

Keywords: technology foresight; small economies; catching up; priority setting; smart specialisation; science policy; technology policy; technological capabilities; production capabilities; economic development; Estonia; intelligent piggybacking; capability upgrading.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2013.058607

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2013 Vol.9 No.2/3/4, pp.253 - 268

Received: 24 May 2012
Accepted: 31 Mar 2013
Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

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