Regions showcase strategic foresight initiatives at OECD Global Forum on Local Development

The European Committee of the Regions, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Association of Development Agencies (EURADA) brought together representatives of regional authorities and development agencies to exchange among practitioners insights on how strategic foresight can support regions in preparing for economic, technological and climate challenges. The event took place as part of the OECD Global Forum on Local Development on 28–29 May in Maastricht, the Netherlands.

Contributing to the opening session on behalf of the CoR, Deputy Director Bert Kuby outlined the Committee’s work in supporting local and regional authorities in developing foresight capacities and embedding future-oriented thinking into policymaking. He emphasised the importance of linking foresight processes to concrete policy implementation.

Regional participants shared technical examples of how foresight is being applied to support economic transformation and resilience.

Robbert Koldenhof, Director of LIOF, the regional development agency of Limburg in the Netherlands, presented the region’s transition from coal dependency towards innovation ecosystems built around the Brightlands campuses. Elisabetta Maini, Director of the Research, Innovation and European Networks Sector in the Emilia-Romagna Regional Government in Italy, illustrated how recent crises have prompted the integration of foresight into research and innovation strategies, highlighting the limits of traditional planning cycles.

Antonio Castro, Director-General of Andalucía TRADE in Spain, presented horizon scanning approaches and investment tools supporting mid-sized companies, alongside strategic projects such as the IMEC semiconductor hub in Málaga. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council in Finland, represented by its Innovation Manager, Venla Virkamäki, shared its experience with foresight applications in areas including labour markets, climate adaptation and youth engagement.

The exchanges highlighted common challenges across regions, including industrial transformation, talent development, climate adaptation, and economic uncertainty. Participants underlined the value of structured European cooperation on strategic foresight in public administration, and pointed to Interreg Europe projects, such as Strategic Foresight Partnership and Intensifying Cross-Sectoral Innovation within the EU, as practical platforms for peer learning and experimentation.

The event was co-organised by the European Committee of the Regions, which works with the OECD and other key partners on advancing strategic foresight in support of public policymaking.