The EU SF4S Project hosted its third public conference, convening industry leaders, sustainability experts, and educational innovators to explore the essential skills required to drive Europe’s green growth. This event served as a platform for expert insights into foresight practices, the evolving skill landscape within sustainable industries, and strategies for embedding futures literacy into both education and corporate decision-making.
The conference attracted a diverse global audience, with participants joining from Australia, Finland, the Philippines, and Oman, underscoring the widespread interest in sustainability foresight. The enthusiasm was evident, as attendees actively engaged in discussions, shared reactions, and exchanged ideas in the live chat.
Moderated by Amos Taylor (University of Turku), the conference opened with an overview of SF4S’s extensive interview dataset, presented by Toni Ahlqvist (University of Turku). Johanna Vallistu (Taltech) emphasized the necessity of cultivating a futures mindset and the role of foresight pioneers in organizational leadership. Henning Bauer introduced the concept of strategic foresight for sustainability, while Pierre Blazeneck (Michelin) shared insights from Michelin’s sustainable mobility foresight initiatives, detailing collaborative workshops in Clermont-Ferrand that brought together various business lines to develop future mobility strategies.
The final session focused on adapting education systems to equip the workforce with the critical skills needed for the future. Rene Rohrbeck (EDHEC) stressed the importance of modular training that integrates systems thinking, foresight methodologies, and AI literacy. Theresa Hannig, author of Pantopia, highlighted the transformative power of storytelling in shaping sustainable futures, reinforcing the idea that narratives can drive meaningful change.
Throughout the conference, participants actively contributed through the chat, offering diverse perspectives, posing thought-provoking questions, and exchanging valuable resources. A major theme was the role of foresight in navigating uncertainty and how organizations can align their sustainability ambitions with the complexities of geopolitical and economic instability. The consensus was that foresight methodologies, particularly scenario planning, provide essential tools for preparing businesses to navigate multiple possible futures.
Narratives and cultural perspectives also featured prominently in the conversation among conference particpatns. While some argued that narratives alone cannot drive change, others pointed to historical examples—such as religious texts and science fiction—that have profoundly influenced societal evolution. This discussion extended into how language and framing shape our capacity to imagine alternative futures. Intergenerational and inclusive futures thinking was another key topic. Several attendees called for a long-term perspective in foresight literacy, emphasizing the need to move beyond immediate business cycles and consider the far-reaching implications of present-day decisions. Discussions also highlighted the necessity of incorporating perspectives from the Global South to ensure that sustainability strategies are not disproportionately shaped by Western priorities.
The conference concluded with a strong call for continued dialogue and collaboration. Participants expressed enthusiasm for further discussions, with some advocating for an extended format to allow for deeper engagement. The SF4S project reaffirmed its commitment to democratizing access to foresight knowledge by making conference materials, including presentations and additional resources, publicly available on its website.
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