Kohti alueellisesti juurrutettua teknologiaennakointia. Päijät-Hämeen klusteristrategiaan sovitettu ennakointiprosessi / Towards regionally embedded technology foresight. A foresight process adapted to the cluster strategy of Päijät-Häme

Abstract

<p>Foresight can have a significant role in supporting innovation activities and breaking for example path-dependence tendencies connected to regional development trajectories. However, according to many recent studies one major challenge facing foresight activities is that the results of those activities are not fully utilized in regional decision-making. In this publication we are presenting one way of carrying out regional technology foresight and also illustrating, how the information produced during foresight process can be re-rooted back into regional innovation system to support the innovation processes carried out in the region. As a case example we are using a regional technology foresight process, which was carried out in Päijät-Häme in 2005. The starting point of that foresight process was the cluster based development strategy, which was formulated few years earlier. In that cluster based development strategy environment-, grain-, wood-, living- and mechatronics clusters were selected as regional keyclusters and given a spearhead-status in development activities. We are assessing the future development of three generic technologies (ICT, nano- and biotechnologies) using Delphi-approach. The future related assessments are also connected to regional cluster strategy. The assessment was conducted utilizing so called technology signals, which were related to those three generic technologies. Technology signals were collected mainly from MIT Technology Review. We have also synthesized potential application ideas which could utilize the studied technologies. The expert information gathered during the Delphi was used in synthetization process. The application ideas were categorized into following classes: ubiquitous information technologies, healthcare, nanoapplications, functional materials, processing of material, sensor technologies and hybrid technologies. <br /></p><p><br />In the end of this publication we have brought up some needs and suggestions for further research in regional technology foresight and we have also made some proposals how the information gathered in foresight processes could be better utilized in regional innovation processes. The case example, regional technology foresight process in Päijät-Häme, is part of a wider research program of regional innovation environment. The program is led and coordinated by Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lahti Unit.<br /></p>