| The main purpose of the study is to improve our understanding of the relation between the shift towards a knowledge based economy and regional disparities in Europe. On the one hand there is a concern that existing regional disparities in income and knowledge potential may widen due to the agglomeration tendency of certain knowledge intensive activities. While on the other hand there are signs of catching up in recently joined Member States.
What could be the situation in 20 years from now, and what are the policy implications for today of the gained insights from a foresight on the regional impact.
1) The foresight exercise starts with a meta analysis on existing foresights and relate this to the results of the quantitative work on trends and typology.
2) The next step will focus on a foresight for each type of region, since the relevant trends and prospects will differ per type of region. (Although we do not know the exact number of types of regions yet, we propose that each of the partners will be involved in performing a foresight for a specific type of region. This way we make optimal use of the foresight experience and expertise of each of the involved partners.) The foresights of each type of region will be expert based.
3) In the first phase a Delphi survey per type of region will address
the main trends in technological developments,
the main challenges of the knowledge based economy,
the main driving forces of the knowledge based economy
and the main sectors of importance
for that specific type or region.
4) The results will be revised in expert groups and policy implications will be discussed (in the form of story-lines) to be held in the countries of location of the 7 involved partner organisation.
5) A synthesis of these foresights will be discussed in the antoher workshop.
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