
IN SPOTLIGHT
The Shift in Technological Platforms and Business Ecosystems Over Time
Every 50 years or so, according to Kondratieff wave theory, capitalist economies reorganise themselves around a new technological foundation, sparking the rise of new business ecosystems. Where are we now in that cycle—and what might the next foundation look like?
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The rise of the ‘solo economy’ is driving new consumption patterns
Often referred to as the ‘solo economy’ or ‘singles economy’, the growing prevalence of this household unit will have many implications for consumer brands who’ve long assumed that the default household consists of multiple people.
Trend Cards on Futures Platform and How to Use Them
Curated by our team of futurists, more than 800 trend card features compact, easy-to-digest analyses on future changes. Many of the cards also feature two scenario descriptions that explore alternative future development paths for the trend. Save time on horizon scanning and explore a rich library of trend analyses by leading futurists
Future of Malls: Rethinking outside the big box to save shopping centres
Pandemic lockdowns could have been the death knell for shopping centres. That said, they may also end up being the lifesaver these real estate behemoths need in order to become relevant again.
Cyber Wargames: Rapidly Rising Stakes
For more than 13 years, NATO has conducted cyber wargames that simulate complex decision-making in cyberspace. The focus, along with the invitation list, has widened to include all forms of cybersecurity, and in 2020, white-hat hackers were included for the first time.
Futures Table – A Powerful Scenario Planning Tool
Futures Table is a powerful scenario planning tool that we, at Futures Platform use on a daily basis in our scenario-building work. In this article, we walk you through how to use this tool to build fully-fledged, logical and engaging scenario narratives.
The Metaverse is Coming: How Should Organisations Prepare?
Miikka Rosendahl, CEO of the XR studio ZOAN, and Futures Platform’s Foresight Analysis Manager Max Stucki discuss how the next evolution of the internet will transform industries.
Greentech: Burgeoning boom or a financial bubble in the making?
Greentech is hot, and possibly overheating. Surging green investments in still-to-be-proven technologies may overinflate this market bubble. Much depends on whether greentech’s issues can be efficiently addressed and whether governments will step in – and step up funding – if investor money dries up.
The Southwest Finland Foresight Academy’s collaborative approach to foresight
The Southwest Finland Foresight Academy has a unique foresight academy model and a collaboration network that operates across professions and industries to forecast future educational needs and boost regional competence.
From “You Are What You Eat” to “Eat for the Way You Are”
In the era of curated experiences, food personalisation is on the cusp of becoming the next big health and wellness solution – but at what price for the consumer, and at what cost to those experiencing food insecurity? Can the industries involved collaborate to efficiently bring these bespoke foods to market without exacerbating (or possibly even alleviating) the global food shortage?
How to Do Horizon Scanning: A Step-by-Step Guide
Horizon scanning, also known as environmental scanning, is a foresight method used for discovering early signs of potential change. It is a systematic process that enables organisations to spot trends before they emerge into the mainstream and identify key action points to proactively shape desirable futures.
Introducing Futures Platform's new CEO, Juha Mattsson
Get to know our new CEO in this interview where we talk about his background, experiences, and his vision as a leader.
How Asia’s growing middle class is reshaping global consumption
With the exponential growth of Asian economies, the consumption balance is shifting from the West towards the emerging markets in Asia.