ITU's 160 anniversary

Committed to connecting the world

Strategic Foresight / Trend Research Readiness

​​​​​​​​​​​​

Strategic Foresight is a structured process that explores possible future scenarios and identifies emerging opportunities and challenges. Rather than predicting a single future, it enables organisations and individuals to anticipate change, build resilience, and make informed long-term decisions. 

Unlike rigid, linear planning methods, Strategic Foresight is an adaptive and iterative approach that transforms trends into actionable insights. It helps decision-makers navigate complexity, drive innovation, and remain competitive in an era of rapid technological, social, and economic transformation. 

Why Strategic Foresight Matters


In a world shaped by rapid technological advancements, shifting global dynamics, and increasing uncertainty, organisations, governments, and institutions must move beyond reactive decision-making to anticipatory, future-ready strategies. 

The VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) environment presents unprecedented challenges—including disruptive technologies, economic shifts, climate change, geopolitical tensions, and evolving societal needs—that demand long-term strategic thinking. 

Strategic Foresight enables stakeholders to navigate complexity, mitigate risks, and seize opportunities by systematically exploring multiple possible futures. In today's fast-paced digital landscape, where emerging technologies are reshaping industries, having a structured, future-focused approach is no longer optional—it is a necessity. 

By integrating Strategic Foresight into policy, business, and innovation strategies, organisations can proactively shape the future rather than merely reacting to disruptions. This forward-thinking approach enhances preparedness, improves investment strategies, and builds a resilient foundation for long-term success. 

ITU's Approach to Strategic Foresight

Delivered using the Playbook on Strategic Foresight, developed by the Digital Transformation Lab as a core component of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development, ITU's foresight methodology supports ITU Members in accelerating digital transformation, fostering innovation, and aligning national development agendas with future-looking insights.  

ITU employs a structured but customisable foresight methodology that combines systems thinking, design thinking, and futures thinking to help stakeholders navigate uncertainties and accelerate digital transformation.  

While the process of developing a Strategic Foresight Brief provides a valuable capacity-building opportunity for stakeholders, the resulting Brief serves as a key tool for helping countries and organisations anticipate future challenges, identify emerging opportunities, and develop forward-looking strategies that drive innovation and resilience in an increasingly complex world. 

ITU's Strategic Foresight methodology is grounded in collaboration and co-creation, ensuring that insights evolve dynamically while staying aligned with national, regional,​​​​​​​ and global digital transformation goals. 

This ecosystem-driven approach supports stakeholders by: 

• Analysing technological, socio-economic, and environmental drivers of change to identify emerging disruptions and opportunities, helping stakeholders anticipate key shifts. 

• Exploring a range of plausible future pathways to enhance preparedness and inform adaptive decision-making. 

• Developing future-ready strategies that enable long-term adaptability in a rapidly evolving landscape. 

Learn More About Strategic Foresight

 

Individuals looking to develop a foundational understanding of Strategic Foresight can enroll in the free, self-paced Strategic Foresight 101 course on ITU Academy. This course introduces participants to the fundamentals of futures thinking, foresight methodologies, and scenario planning, equipping them with the tools to apply foresight in their organisations, policymaking, and strategic planning. ​

Past Activities and Reports

​​

    • Shaping the Arab Regional Priorities For Future Readiness - Foresight Brief​
    • Shaping Emergency Telecommunications Readiness​ - Foresight Brief​
    • Shaping Education for Tomorrow​ - Upcoming​
    • Shaping the future of Startups and SMEs - Upcoming​
    • Shaping the Future of VC Funding - Upcoming​
    • Shaping Smart Sustainable Cities - Upcoming​ 
    • Shaping the Future of Quantum for Impact - Upcoming​