The course aims to provide students with concepts, methods, and practical tools to understand, anticipate, and shape future technological transformations. By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- describe the purpose, principles, and application domains of strategic foresight in the digital context - identify and interpret major technological megatrends and their social, economic, and institutional impacts - understand the role of European strategic agendas (e.g., Digital Decade, Agenda 2030, PNRR) in guiding future innovation pathways - apply foresight methods (e.g., Three Horizons Framework, backcasting, scenario building) to explore long-term technological futures - analyze risks and opportunities related to disruptive technologies for organizations, markets, and public services - critically evaluate assumptions about the future and the robustness of different strategic options - integrate sustainability, ethics, and inclusion into anticipatory and technological planning activities
Course Prerequisites
Students are expected to have:
-basic knowledge of current digital technologies (e.g., cloud computing, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, augmented/virtual reality, 5G) - general familiarity with digital transformation processes, both in the public and private sectors. Ability to research and critically analyze sources on technological trends and innovation - introductory understanding of organizational models and digital market dynamics.
Teaching Methods
The course combines theoretical and practical approaches, employing a variety of teaching methods to support active learning and the application of concepts:
Lectures: presentation of key foresight concepts, digital megatrends, and emerging technologies Guided exercises: practical application of foresight methods (Future Wheel, Backcasting, Three Horizons, Scenario and Visioning) using real-life examples Group workshops: development of future scenarios, strategic visions, and action plans in teams, followed by discussion and comparison of results Project work and discussions: consolidation of skills through individual or group prospective analyses and presentations.
Assessment Methods
Preparation of a written future-oriented analysis on an emerging technology chosen by the student, including: identification of key drivers of change application of one or more foresight methods covered in the course development of future scenarios and strategic recommendations The overall assessment will reflect the student’s ability to integrate theory, methods, critical thinking, and strategic vision in the analysis of technological futures. The final evaluation will be expressed on a 30-point scale.
Texts
- Glenn - Gordon - Florescu et al., State of the Future 20.0, The Millennium Project, ISBN-13: 978-0-9882639-6-3
- Choise of:
R. Saracco, Megatrends for 2021-2030 E-book disponibile su https://digitalreality.ieee.org/publications or R. Saracco, Post Pandemic Megatrends 2021 A Digital Reality Initiative eBook E-book disponibile su https://digitalreality.ieee.org/publications
Contents
Module 1: Introduction to Foresight and Emerging Digital Technologies
Basic concepts and practical applications of foresight Global megatrends and digital impacts (including PNRR and Agenda 2030) Overview of key technologies and future scenarios related to European strategic objectives
Module 2: Foresight Methods
Future Wheel Backcasting Three Horizons Scenario and Visioning
Module 3: Practical Group Workshops
Direct application of the methods studied in Module 2 to create scenarios, strategic visions, and action plans Discussion and comparison of workshop results