In 2025, the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) completed the project Synthetic Drugs 2050 to address increasing uncertainty surrounding the future production, distribution, and use of synthetic drugs in Europe up to 2050. Using horizon scanning, trend analysis, and sense-making approaches, the Foresight on Demand (FOD) project team and EUDA jointly developed four plausible scenarios to support EU-level and national stakeholders in anticipating emerging risks, identifying opportunities, and reinforcing the resilience of future policies.

The 2026 FOD–EUDA project marks the second phase of this foresight work and will focus on:

• Transforming the 2050 scenarios into interactive tools that foster strategic thinking
• Developing participatory formats that make complex foresight insights accessible and engaging
• Formulating recommendations for embedding foresight practices into EUDA’s strategic planning and policy development

The project will deliver:

• A Scenario Activation Toolkit with interactive resources
• Participatory testing and validation workshops with key stakeholders
• A final project report, including a toolkit manual and consolidated insights on the project’s outcomes
  

Europe’s Research and Innovation (R&I) system is entering a period of profound change. Demographic decline, rapid technological shifts, and constrained funding are beginning to alter student intake, the graduate pipeline, and research career prospects. By 2050, Europe’s population structure will look markedly different:

• The share of people aged 85+ will more than double, reaching around 10% of the population.
• The workforce is expected to shrink by 12%—equivalent to roughly 25 million people.
• The EU will have over 3 million fewer young people under 20, reducing the talent pool entering education and research.

These shifts raise fundamental questions for the future of Europe’s R&I landscape. To address them, DG Research & Innovation commmissioned a study “The Demographic Turn: Actions Needed for Research, Innovation and Policy in Europe”, which explores possible futures for Europe's R&I system and highlights how demographic pressure could become a driver of renewal and transformation. 

The study delivers:

• Background data showing a shrinking youth population, a declining workforce, and growing fiscal pressures on R&I funding.
• A six-step foresight approach combining horizon scanning, scenario-building, and windtunneling to anticipate future challenges.
• Four Scenarios illustrating different pathways for Europe’s R&I system.
• Strategic actions to protect fundamental research, enable lifelong learning, strengthen regional innovation, and build societal trust in technology
  

Europe’s research and innovation (R&I) system is facing new challenges as demographic trends reshape societies, economies, and labour markets. With ageing populations, shifting migration patterns, and evolving skill demands, it is crucial to anticipate how these transformations will impact education, research careers, innovation ecosystems, and funding landscapes.

DG Research & Innovation commissioned a study under the Foresight on Demand (FOD) Framework Contract to explore the implications of demographic change on the EU R&I system. By examining weak signals and trends and exploring future scenarios—including the role of emerging technologies such as AI—the study aims to identify strategic policy options to support a competitive, sustainable, and fair Europe. 

The study provides insights to help policymakers and stakeholders design resilient R&I policies that respond effectively to demographic shifts.