Effie Amanatidou

Global Europe 2050

The Global Europe 2050 foresight report presents and quantifies three scenarios that identify the main pathways Europe could follow in the coming decades:the Nobody cares scenario where Europe is i ...

Framework Programme 5 (FP5) impact assessment: A survey conducted as part of the five-year assessment of European Union research activities (1999–2003)

Every four years, the European Union conducts an assessment of its past research activities. On the last two occasions (2000 and 2004) this has involved a questionnaire survey to Framework Programme participants focused on goal attainment, project impacts and overall satisfaction with the programmes. This paper reports the results of the 2004 survey. It concludes that goal attainment and impacts were in line with expectations but that programme efficiency could be improved. The chances of project success could also be enhanced via selection criteria prioritising clearly specified goals, technical and managerial excellence and strategically important projects in core technology areas. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.

Strategies for emerging research and innovation futures

Purpose This paper aims to present a set of strategic options for Research and Innovation (R&I) stakeholders in the light of new and emerging ways of organising and performing research. Design/methodology/approach The paper first reviews the evolution of the R&I landscape and identifies the most influential stakeholders engaged in R&I. In the light of the scenarios developed for the year 2030, a set of strategic options are identified and assessed for each stakeholder group. Findings R&I systems are now more complex than 50 years ago and will be even more in the future. Radical changes are expected in terms of the ways research is funded, organised and carried out. Some of these transformations are captured by the scenarios developed. The analysis of scenarios indicated that their feasibility and desirability differ across different sectors of industry, and research areas within the research landscape. Research limitations/implications Scenarios and strategies presented in the paper bring new considerations on the way research activities are practiced. Further research is considered to be useful on the new modes of research and implications for academia, industry, society and policy makers. Practical implications The discussion around the responses of different stakeholders vis-a-vis specific scenarios about the future in R&I practices and organisation gives a practical view about how to deal with associated emerging trends and issues. Social implications Society is a crucial stakeholder of all R&I activities. The transformative scenarios suggest that society will not only be playing a reactive role on the demand side but also more proactive role on the supply side in the decades to come. Originality/value The paper is based on work undertaken within the Research and Innovation (RIF) 2030 project. As R&I activities will be important for the development and competitiveness of the EU and its member states, the work presented here is considered to be of value by highlighting how to create more resilient strategies in a fast-changing R&I landscape.

Detecting and analysing emerging science and technology issues: the EFMN Issue Analysis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the contribution of the EFMN Issue Analysis to the identification of key emerging science and technology issues of high relevance for European policies, as well as to the development of future European science and technology policy priorities. As such, it describes the experience of the past three EFMN Issue Analyses (2005 to 2007), which focused on “Cognitive Science” (2005), “Healthy Ageing” (2006) and “Emerging Knowledge‐based Economy and Society” (2007).Design/methodology/approach – The annual EFMN Issue Analysis aims at selecting and analysing one key emerging science and technology issue that is relevant for European Union policies. The selection is based on the screening and analysis of recent international foresights along a set of predefined criteria.Findings – The paper highlights future socio‐economic perspectives and S&T developments coming along with the topics “Cognitive Science”, “Healthy Ageing” and “Emerging Knowledge‐based Economy and S...

“Joint foresight”: towards a mechanism for joint programming in Europe?

Purpose – The present paper aims to explore the potential of joint foresight exercises in serving joint programming, a concept highlighted in furthering the creation of the European Research Area (ERA). Design/methodology/approach – The paper starts with setting the context, i.e. the ERA concept, and the importance of joint programming. It then explores the potential of joint foresight in serving joint programming. This is done by analysing the current situation of trans-national foresight based on the EFMN pool of foresight exercises. Then, possible modes and issues of trans-national foresight collaboration, as well as perceived benefits and challenges, are also examined in setting a framework for foresight collaboration. Findings – Joint foresight is not carried out in a fully fledged mode, yet but both interest and potential is high. A framework for foresight collaboration can already be set. EFMN is a valuable source of information and also holds a central, synergistic and complementary role in relation to other sources in defining the way to go forward in joint foresight. Research limitations/implications – The framework for foresight collaboration can form the basis for strategic discussions across EU member states as well as for further research to clarify and enrich understanding of the governing conditions and variables. Originality/value – The paper proves that EFMN is both a significant pool of information and holds a complementary role in defining the way forward in supporting joint programming under the ERA. The foresight collaboration framework first attempted here is also worth exploiting further.

Foreign policy and international R&D collaboration policy in Greece

International R&D collaboration is facilitated by, not guided by, Greek foreign policy objectives. Its promotion within broader structures, such as the EU and international organisations, or under bilateral S&T agreements, has strengthened links with the EU and helped bring benefits from the Greek diaspora. The important part that Greece is playing in EU enlargement places even more emphasis on international S&T co-operation. Playing a key role in the Balkans, the former Soviet bloc countries, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and pursuing the rest of Greeces foreign policy objectives, not only enhances but also dictates co-operation in research, technological development and innovation. Strengthening support for S&T co-operation can be a positive step towards achieving Greek foreign policy objectives. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.

Time banks, co-production and foresight: intertwined towards an alternative future

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the emergence, operation and features of the time banks that were created during the recent financial crisis in Greece as grass-roots initiatives of different communities, and to examine their relation to the concept of “co-production” and possible relevance to foresight. Time banks are particularly interesting for the future of services: they address all sorts of services while the time-bank “value” of these different types of services does not necessarily reflect their actual value in the free market; impacts may spread from the mere coverage of people’s needs, to increased social capital and community empowerment; and some scholars consider them as flexible forms of co-production, or even as enablers of wider social change. The purpose of the paper is to examine the emergence, and features of the time banks created during the recent financial crisis in Greece as grass-roots initiatives. Design/methodology/approach – Primary information and data were gat...