Welcome to the fourth issue of Horizon Futures Watch! In this edition, we explore two pivotal yet distinct themes: the future of civic resilience and the future of intellectual property. Civic resilience refers to the ability of communities to adapt and thrive amidst challenges and changes, a crucial aspect in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape. On the other hand, the future of IP delves into evolving dynamics crucial for fostering innovation and for protecting the interests of creators in an increasingly digital world. While these themes stand independently, together they underscore the importance of adaptability and creativity in shaping the future. 

An overview of the latest selection of news about foresight projects and topics opens the issue.

Welcome to the third issue of Horizon Futures Watch. Here, we delve into two interrelated themes that may frequently be paired together (or seen in isolation): the future of green skills and the future of big tech.  

Sustainability meets technological progress. A focus on green skills may be amplified with the entrance of innovative, data-driven technologies. Technology may sometimes be viewed as the answer to the need for more sustainable processes, while green skills may provide the essential human touch necessary to ensure these advancements are effectively and ethically applied. But is this always the case? And is there a universally optimal balance between the two? Such questions are explored in the six different projects that follow.

An overview of the latest selection of news about foresight projects and topics opens the issue. The Foresight in the Field section presents a report on the EEA’s recently published Horizon Scanning – Tips and Tricks.

Welcome to the second issue of Horizon Futures Watch, bringing you a fresh batch of articles revolving around the latest foresight developments in Horizon projects and beyond. Two new themes are treated in this issue: Tackling security concerns and the future of Science for Policy. 

The ‘Tackling security concerns’ section goes beyond the scope of the Futures4Europe platform foresight project on the ‘interpenetration of criminal and lawful activities’ and explores new needs that arise for fighting crime and countering hybrid threats as a result of rapid technological developments. 

The Science for Policy theme explores novel approaches taken to support the democratic process through evidence-based methods for policymaking.  

We open this issue with an up-to-date selection of news on foresight projects and publications. The Foresight in the Field section presents the application of foresight in EUROPOL’s European Innovation Lab to support law enforcement agencies around the EU.

This is the first edition of Horizon Futures Watch, a newsletter showcasing the latest findings from foresight in the EU Framework Programme and the futures4europe.eu platform. It is aimed at a growing community of decision-makers, experts, practicioners and other people interested in foresight, R&I policy and european affairs promoting the wealth of thinking generated in the context of different projects financed through Horizon Europe as well as other foresight-related activities and exercises conducted by the European Commission.

The newsletter is written by the Foresight on Demand Consortium, which provides support to the European Commission of foresight in the area of research and innovation, and is connected to the Horizon Europe Foresight Network – a network of Commission staff connecting all policy departments involved in the Horizon Europe R&I programme.

This issue features articles on foresight in R&I projects covering two themes: Land and Sea Use and the Future of Social Confrontations. The theme of Land and Sea Use looks at Horizon projects that explore issues of increasing demand for land-and-sea resources for human activities such as agriculture, housing, transport, and industry, and the complications associated with climate change. The theme of Social Confrontations explores social dilemmas like inequality, discrimination, and ideological divisions.  

Street protests are just one aspect of social conflict, but often one of the first that come to mind. Despite the growth of online activism, street demonstrations are as significant as ever.

Project INNOPATHS explores different forward-looking scenarios leading to a completely decarbonised Europe by 2050. How attainable are these pathways and what are the skills in demand?

The FUTURESILIENCE project has set out to strengthen European economic and social resilience through an enhanced ability to adapt and respond quickly to future crises. To reach this goal, the project sees Research and Innovation (R&I) playing a key role in building the capacity to anticipate, better prepare and be more flexible in crisis periods.

This project aims at:

i) providing timely foresight intelligence and forward-looking policy briefs to the European Commission for purposes of R&I policy on the following topics:

• Futures of interpenetration of criminal and lawful economic activities 
• Futures of Science for Policy in Europe 
• Futures of using nature in rural and marine contexts in Europe
• Futures of Social Confrontations
• Futures of Green Skills and Jobs
• Futures of Big Tech
• Futures of innovation and IP regulation

ii) providing a hub for Europe’s R&I foresight community and a space in which foresight agencies and researchers can share knowledge and tools;

iii) networking EU supported R&I projects with important foresight elements and promoting their results to policymakers, including via Horizon Futures Watch quarterly newsletters;

iv) promoting broad public engagement with foresight for R&I policy, including stakeholders as well as the public and covering all sections of society, from scientists and engineers to policy-makers, artists, intellectuals and engaged citizens.