About the Project

The Scottish Parliament, under the leadership of Presiding Officer George Reid MSP, became keen during 2004 to establish a futures capacity for its members and for the benefit of Scotland as a whole. IFF were asked to draw on international contacts, Scottish opinion and our own experience of recent years to advise on how to set up the most effective futures capacity possible. We were also invited to run an all day event in the Parliament building on 6 December 2004 to explore the proposition in the light of IFF's input.  Both the initial report with IFF's advice to the Parliament's Presiding Officer and a full report of the day-long conference to consider it are available for download below.

Partners

Scottish Parliament, Scottish Council Foundation

Last updated: 25 Mar 2012

Status

IFF's findings from a series of interviews, workshops and consultations with our international network resulted in a concise report for the Scottish Parliament with guidance on how to establish an effective futures function for the modern world. That report, Seven Prompts (see downloads), was discussed in a full day conference in the Parliament building attended by 150 delegates including a number of IFF members from around the world. The full repor from that session is available for download below.  IFF Member Eamonn Kelly, President of GBN, gave an opening address on the challenges that Scotland might rise to: Five Centuries of the Future (see downloads below). The Parliament has gone on to establish 'Scotland's Futures Forum' as an arms length body 'to develop the Scottish Parliament's capacity to undertake longer-term strategic thinking about Scotland's futures'. For more information see http://www.scotlandfutureforum.org/ .  

Documents for download

Click on the documents below to download them to your hard disk.

Commissariat General du Plan note on the Scottish initiative

One of a series of notes on futures initiatives in governments prepared by the French government followoing participation in the IFF event on 6 Decmeber 2004.

Date: 24 Nov 2005  Size: 342kB

Considering Foresight for Scotland

Full report of a one day conference held in the Scottish Parliament to consider how best to establish a foresight capacity for Scotland, and what challenges and opportunities it might address.

Date: 25 Mar 2012  Size: 634kB

Five Centuries of the Future: Eamonn Kelly, GBN

Eamonn Kelly's address to the 6 December event in the Parliament outlining five challenges for the future and Scotland's possible contribution.

Date: 13 Sep 2005  Size: 153kB

Seven Prompts: a report for the Scottish Parliament

Document prepared for the Parliament recording lessons from other futures initiatives and giving seven prompts to guide their own. Discussed at 6 December 2004 all day event.

Date: 13 Sep 2005  Size: 114kB