SF4S Project Focus Group Webinar: Shaping Sustainable Futures in European Industry

On Friday, January 27, 2023, a focus group webinar was held as part of the SF4S project. The event aimed to present initial project results and facilitate a peer-to-peer discussion among industry representatives regarding their foresight needs for the future. The SF4S project is a collaborative effort involving partners from Higher Education institutions (HEIs), Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers, innovation networks, and business entities in the Agri-food, Health, and Mobility sectors. Its primary goal is to support the transition to a more sustainable European economy by addressing the shortage of green, digital, and sustainability foresight skills among students and professionals.

The event had a total of 42 registrants. The program for the focus group webinar was as follows:

1. Presentation of the SF4S Project (13:00-13:15 CET): The event began with an introduction to the SF4S project, outlining its objectives and collaborative nature.

2. Outlook on the Results and Discussion (13:15-13:30 CET): An overview of the project's results thus far was provided, and participants were encouraged to raise questions and engage in discussion.

3. Breakout Room Discussions (13:30-14:45 CET): Participants were divided into three breakout groups to discuss various aspects of foresight capabilities and needs in their respective companies. The topics included:

• Approaches to foresight in companies.

• Short-term and long-term foresight needs.

• Developing foresight as a critical value function.

• Prioritizing development with limited resources.

4. Final Words and Session Closing (14:45-15:00 CET): The webinar concluded with final remarks and the formal closing of the session.

The SF4S project, with its emphasis on sustainability foresight and collaboration between educational institutions, vocational training providers, and industry, aims to contribute to the development of cooperative solutions at a large scale. The event was a valuable opportunity for industry representatives to engage in meaningful discussions about their foresight needs and play a role in shaping the future of European sustainability and skills development.