International foresight:

Achieving impact and best practice for governments was the title of an international workshop organised by the Foresight Programme in the UK Government Office for Science on 17-19 February 2009.  The Workshop brought together a high-level, international group of science and technology foresight leaders experts from around the world, including Ron Johnston, for an intensive, informal, three-day workshop to explore how best to align and connect their activities. Representing a variety of countries, continents and cultures, the participants shared thinking on:

• the rationale for developing foresight programmes;

• their respective approaches and methodologies;

• how to design and deliver effective interventions for government policies and strategies; and

• how to evaluate the impact of foresight projects and identify key indicators of success.

Priorities, current and planned activities and potential synergies of international programmes and agendas, and the scope for joint working were also explored. A follow-up meeting is currently under consideration, to be held either at the OECD in Paris or the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing.