The event is the last out of five Mutual Learning Events series, each with over thirty foresight practitioners and/or research and innovation policy-makers experts from across the European Union (EU). The format of these workshops has been designed to allow for mutual exchange and learning among participants: a few keynotes as well as interactive sessions where all participants can share their experience, ideas and questions.

The series of events is organised as part of the project Eye of Europe, a Coordination and Support Action funded by the Horizon Europe Programme, aimed at enhancing the integration of foresight practices into science, technology, and innovation (STI) policymaking across the EU. The Technology Centre Prague (TC Prague, Czechia) together with the National Agency for Research and Development of Republic of Moldova as the local organiser oversee organising this event. Technology Centre Prague, which is responsible for all the MLEs and their content, is a key Czech national think tank and academia-based NGO which has a long and rich experience in supporting knowledge-based policymaking as well as in foresight processes and expert-based forward-looking exercises and trainings. National Agency for Research and Development (NARD) is the Moldovan government authority responsible for implementing the national programme on research and innovation, promoting excellence, and supporting collaborative projects through competitive funding and partnership initiatives.

The topic of Foresight culture in Europe: How to use foresight for (STI) knowledge-based policy making?
shall bring discussions on importance of collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and industry experts in
foresight activities and explore ways to break down silos and promote knowledge exchange across disciplines in
Moldova as well as in the rest of Europe or even globally.

On 23–24 October 2025, we gathered in Chișinău, Moldova, for the final chapter of the Eye of Europe Mutual Learning series. Hosted by the National Agency for Research and Development of Moldova, this two-day event brought together over 40 foresight practitioners, policy makers, and representatives from ministries and research support agencies across Europe. The agenda was rich with presentations, case studies, and interactive sessions exploring how foresight is shaping research and innovation policy in diverse national contexts—from Moldova to Austria, Czechia, Estonia, Poland, Romania, and beyond. Moldovan stakeholders added a unique perspective, highlighting the strategic role of foresight in national planning. The event was an opportunity to reflect on the many faces of foresight across Europe and to celebrate the diversity of approaches that shape how we anticipate and plan for the future.
Key Objectives
• Foster a shared European foresight culture supporting strategic R&I policymaking.
• Highlight diverse foresight practices and institutional approaches across member states.
• Strengthen capacity for future-oriented policy design and implementation.
• Transition from vision to action through practical foresight integration.
Key Takeaways
• Foresight is a strategic tool for innovation policy, resilience, and inclusiveness.
• There is growing momentum toward systematic foresight integration in governance.
• Collaboration, citizen engagement, and knowledge exchange are vital for foresight maturity in Europe.
• MLE in Chisinau highlighted the need to move from dialogue to tangible policy actions and institutional embedding.

The concept of Future-Oriented Collective Intelligence (FOCI) offers a transformative approach to making sense of and addressing future challenges that are complex and interconnected. 

The topic was at the centre of the Futures4Europe Conference that took place on 15-16 May 2025 in Vienna, Austria, at the Skydome in Vienna’s thrilling 7th district.   

We are deeply grateful to all 140 participants from 32 countries who joined us for these two days of exploration, dialogue, and inspiration. To gain an overview of the diverse themes, methods, and perspectives presented, you may consult the book of abstracts.

We also invite you to revisit the highlights of the conference through our photo gallery and short wrap-up video. 

Feel free to share them with your networks! We look forward to meeting again in 2026.

The Conference is organised by AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, as part of the Eye of Europe project, which envisions a more cohesive and influential R&I foresight community that contributes significantly, as collective intelligence, to shaping and guiding policy decisions. The project has received funding from the EU’s Horizon Europe Research Programme under Grant Agreement n°101131738. 

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