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European Week of Regions and Cities

Using strategic foresight for regional development

Strategic foresight helps local and regional authorities to improve policy design, develop future-proof strategies and ensure that their actions are in line with long-term objectives. This workshop aims to showcase examples of regions that have successfully engaged in foresight and joined forces to develop a networking project. The goal of this project is to facilitate capacity building and tailor foresight tools to regional needs.

  • Territorial | Local and regional | Sustainable | Governance and Public administration | Cohesion
  • Code: 09WS24756
  • Jacques Delors building, JDE 53

Speakers

Aurore Sorin

  • Policy Officer, Hauts-de-France Region

Rosa Tuomi

Peter De Smedt

Giorgio Magliocca

Coralie PEYROT-BEGARD

Moderator

Bert Kuby

  • Deputy Director, European Committee of the Regions

Practical information

When
Wed 09/10/2024, 11:30 - 13:00 CET
Where
Jacques Delors building, JDE 53
Type of partnership
Partnership
Format
Workshop/ panel debate
Theme
Smart and sustainable growth for regions
Languages
English, French, Italian

Partner

European Committee of the Regions

European Committee of the Regions

  • Brussels | Belgium

Reporting

Session summary

European Regions Week 2024 Spotlights the Power of Strategic Foresight

Brussels, 9 October 2024 – During this year’s European Regions Week, a second edition of the workshop on Strategic Foresight gathered regional leaders and experts to explore how foresight can be leveraged to enhance decision-making and policy development. The workshop featured representatives from Hauts-de-France, Flanders, Helsinki-Uusimaa showcasing their successful integration of foresight into regional strategies and of dozens of other regional and municipal representatives in the audience.

The workshop’s discussions underscored the critical importance of adopting an inclusive, participatory approach to strategic foresight. By involving a diverse array of stakeholders, regions can harness the collective intelligence necessary to overcome data gaps, share knowledge, and build resilient, forward-looking policies. The participants highlighted that foresight is not just a tool for anticipating change but a process that enables regions to actively shape a more sustainable and innovative future.

Giorgio Magliocca, European Committee of the Region's rapporteur on strategic foresight, reinforced the value of involving youth, citizens, and civil society in foresight efforts, rather than relying solely on institutions. He stressed the importance of data in making informed decisions and ensuring that regional leaders can steer their administrations effectively through uncertain futures.

Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office, represented by Peter De Smedt, shared the region’s 20-year journey in foresight, highlighting its work on evidence-based studies and vision for mobility. Flanders has been a key player in connecting regional actors and fostering collaboration on foresight initiatives. Mr De Smedt also outlined the region’s involvement with the OECD and the creation of an informal network of regions dedicated to SME development, the circular economy, and global competitiveness.

Rosa Tuomi from Helsinki-Uusimaa discussed Finland’s strong tradition of knowledge-based decision-making and foresight. She emphasized the region’s commitment to scenario planning, a process undertaken every four years, and its recent collaboration with Ostrobothnia to explore future regional development.

Aurore Sorin from Hauts-de-France presented innovative examples of participatory foresight used in projects focusing on rural areas, city centres, and coastal regions. Their foresight exercises led to the development of projects aimed at transforming challenges into opportunities, including revitalizing city centres and supporting local businesses during the COVID pandemic.

The workshop concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, where participants discussed how to engage stakeholders, transform foresight insights into actionable policies, and overcome data gaps in regional planning.

Event Summary:
• Date: 9 October 2024
• Location: European Regions Week, Brussels
• Key Speakers: Giorgio Magliocca (CoR rapporteur on Strategic Foresight), Peter De Smedt (Flanders), Rosa Tuomi (Helsinki-Uusimaa), Aurore Sorin (Hauts-de-France)
• Moderator: Bert Kuby (Deputy Director, CoR)
• Topics Covered: Foresight methodologies, evidence-based policymaking, inter-regional collaboration, participatory foresight initiatives
The workshop’s discussions underscored the critical importance of adopting an inclusive, participatory approach to strategic foresight. By involving a diverse array of stakeholders, regions can harness the collective intelligence necessary to overcome data gaps, share knowledge, and build resilient, forward-looking policies.

For further details, please contact: AI-StrategicPlan@cor.europa.eu