In 2019, the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH), was awarded a UNESCO Chair on Futures Research. PRAXI Network leads the activities of the UNESCO Chair on Futures Research. Moreover, the Chair provides operational and technical support to the Foresight Team of the Greek government. The granting of a UNESCO Chair provides access to a global network of universities and research institutions, focusing on Foresight and Futures Literacy. Moreover, the Chair provides operational and technical support to the Foresight Team of the Greek government.

UNESCO Chairs serve as intermediaries connecting research with community’s needs for the design of policies with positive social impact. The UNESCO Chair on Futures Research aspires to evolve into a regional pole of excellence, with a view to filling the foresight expertise gap observed at a national and regional level.

Through a series of targeted activities, the Research Chair seeks:

• To enhance futures literacy in Greece by raising public awareness and launching capacity building and training initiatives;
• To contribute to the establishment of a foresight culture at a national and regional level through the development and dissemination of innovative futures tools and methods;
• To form and promote a Futures Research Agenda on areas relevant to Smart Specialization, as well as topics of broad public interest, such as the future of work, the future of migration, the climate change etc.

The activities of the UNESCO Chair are also expected to contribute to the realization of Sustainable Development Goals, the enhancement of resilience and change management strategies, and the design of future-proof policies.

It should be noted, that the Foresight Unit was established in PRAXI Network in 2017, with a view to disseminating cutting-edge foresight methods and techniques, which elevate the strategic positioning of enterprises, organizations and research institutes in Greece and abroad.

The unit offers services ranging from the design and implementation of foresight projects & processes to tailored made workshops for capacity building in foresight tools and methods. Within the framework of its operation, integrated Foresight services are provided, which – among others- include horizon scanning (trends and weak signals), future scenarios development, strategic planning, training seminars and experiential workshops (Future Labs).

Find out more about the activities of the UNSECO Chair on Futures Research.