Toshiyuki Miyake - Project Manager Industrial Promotion and Technology Branch United Nations Industrial Development Organization

The current globalized and increasingly competitive international economy requires every economic region to be competitive and dynamic. The productive sector of the economy is particularly important in this respect, since most of the trade growth is occurring in the production segments that are technology intensive and innovation driven. It also necessitates comprehensive forward-looking economic policies for development, taking into account technological strengths and weaknesses existing in the economy. Many industrialised countries ensure their progress by improving existing technologies, techniques and methods, as well as through the consistent implementation of new scientific knowledge and technology transfer, with the understanding that technological and scientific capabilities are imperative to a country’s economic well-being. Technology Foresight is a formalized process for systematically identifying technologies and scientific development that could have strong influences on socioeconomic development. Many developed countries are introducing Technology Foresight practice into their R&D policy making processes. Almost every OECD country has had its Technology Foresight activity on one or another subject, and even outside the circle of highly industrialized countries there are several attempts of national and regional Technology Foresight processes in Asia and South America. The countries with economies in transition in Central and Eastern Europe and the NIS have become aware that Technology Foresight is a useful tool in policy formulation, planning and decision-making. In response to requests by member countries, UNIDO has been implementing the Technology Foresight programme at the national and the regional levels, which aims at providing suitable methodologies to promote sustainable and innovative development, fostering economic, environmental and social benefits at national and regional levels. The outcomes of the initiative are policies and R&D programmes that deal with innovation, industrial growth and competitiveness.