Are you facing an issue that spans multiple public policy areas, professions, or levels of decision-making? Are responsibilities divided among different stakeholders, each of whom has some of the necessary knowledge, resources, or tools, but none of whom can solve the problem on their own? Are you going through a period of uncertainty or upheaval in your sector and need to explore ways to build resilience and innovate together with other stakeholders?
The Lab des futurs is creating a collaborative workspace for forward-thinking and action to foster the emergence of new solutions.
What is action-oriented foresight?
Action-oriented foresight is not about predicting the future. It allows us to explore several possible futures in order to broaden the scope of current decisions.
Scenarios, projections, or visions serve to create a space for dialogue among different stakeholders—who may have divergent interests—in order to foster a shared understanding of the issues at hand and identify new avenues for action.
The Lab creates a space for:
- take a step back from the pressures of the present;
- understand the changes that can alter the system;
- compare and contrast different perspectives and interests;
- to bring new questions and opportunities to light;
- develop a shared vision or several possible futures;
- turn these future scenarios into potential solutions, projects, and concrete decisions.
The future thus becomes a catalyst for moving beyond conventional solutions and creating a space for collective innovation.
The tools used
A. Exploring Possible Futures
When the challenge requires a better understanding of future changes, we draw in particular on the following:
- underlying trends and dynamics;
- weak signals and emerging trends;
- critical uncertainties;
- drivers of change;
- exploratory scenarios;
These elements make it possible to construct and compare different possible futures. Participants can thus test their strategies, identify vulnerabilities, and pinpoint opportunities that remain hidden in an approach focused solely on the present.
B. Understanding the challenges, developing a vision, and taking action to make it a reality
When the goal is to identify new solutions, we can start by assessing the current situation, analyzing trends and early indicators, and making projections for the future: what do we want to have made possible in 5, 10, or 15 years?
Starting from this vision, participants gradually work their way back to the present: What changes are needed? Which stakeholders need to take action? What decisions need to be made? What projects should be piloted?
This backcasting approach makes it possible to transform a collective ambition into action plans and initial experiments.
For whom?
The Labs of the Future are aimed specifically at:
- public agencies facing cross-cutting challenges;
- regions and local governments that wish to develop a shared strategy;
- foundations, associations, and NGOs that need to coordinate multiple stakeholders;
- networks or coalitions of stakeholders seeking to bring about change in a system.
The benefits
A “Lab of the Future” allows you to:
- Broaden our perspective and identify changes that could call current strategies into question.
- Build a common understanding and bring together stakeholders who don’t usually work together.
- Develop new solutions by using “futures” to think outside the box and imagine different approaches.
Learn more
- Download the brochure on the initiative in Yverdon to create an agroecological food chain
- Contact us to schedule an interview at info@hubdespossibles.org
They placed their trust in us
- Biovision
- FABLAG