Towards Networked Foresight? Exploring the Use of Futures Research in Innovation Networks

Futures, Forthcoming

43 Pages Posted: 18 Apr 2013

See all articles by Patrick van der Duin

Patrick van der Duin

Delft University of Technology

Tobias Heger

University of Potsdam - Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship; EIT ICT Labs Germany GmbH

Maximilian Schlesinger

European Center for Information and Communication Technologies - EICT GmbH

Date Written: October 18, 2012

Abstract

Along with the rise of the now popular ‘open’ paradigm in innovation management, networks have become a common approach to practicing innovation. Foresight could potentially greatly benefit from resources that become available when the knowledge base increases through networks. This article seeks to investigate how innovation networks and foresight are related, to what extent networked foresight activities exist and how they are practiced. For the former the Cyclic Innovation Model (CIM) is utilized as analytical framework and applied to three cases. The foresight activities are analyzed in terms of type, scope and role.

The cases are a collaboration between government agencies and a research organization and two inter-organizational networks of different size. ‘Networked foresight’ is clearly observable in all three cases. Indeed, a networked approach to foresight seems to strengthen the various roles of foresight. However, the rooting and openness of foresight activities in the three networks varies significantly. The advantages that ‘networked foresight’ entails could be exploited to a much higher degree for the networks themselves, e.g., the broad resource base and the large pool of people with diverse backgrounds that are available. Furthermore, effective instruments for the re-integration of knowledge into the networks’ partner organizations are needed.

Keywords: Innovation Networks, Futures Research, Foresight, Networked Foresight, Open Innovation

JEL Classification: E17, M1, M19, O33

Suggested Citation

van der Duin, Patrick and Heger, Tobias and Schlesinger, Maximilian, Towards Networked Foresight? Exploring the Use of Futures Research in Innovation Networks (October 18, 2012). Futures, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2253266

Patrick Van der Duin

Delft University of Technology ( email )

Stevinweg 1
Stevinweg 1
Delft, 2628 CN
Netherlands

Tobias Heger (Contact Author)

University of Potsdam - Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship ( email )

Potsdam
Germany
+49 30 3450 6690 123 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.uni-potsdam.de/ime/index.html

EIT ICT Labs Germany GmbH ( email )

Ernst-Reuter-Platz 7
Berlin, 10115
Germany
+49 30 3450 6690 123 (Phone)
+49 30 3450 6690 102 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.eitictlabs.eu/about-us/nodes-co-location-centres/berlin/

Maximilian Schlesinger

European Center for Information and Communication Technologies - EICT GmbH ( email )

Ernst-Reuter-Platz 7
Berlin, 10587
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.eict.de

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