In the context of Activity T2.3 (Innovation Strategy and Action plan for Innovation investment in Blue growth) Area Science Park created Technology foresight on key common technologies (DT2.3.1)
The foresight exercise developed in the framework of the BLUEAIR Project is addressed to innovation players active in blue economy sectors and is intended to broaden technological horizons and help develop shared perceptions of challenges and opportunities. By gathering intelligence insights from several sources, foresight aims at both providing a better understanding of the forces that may shape the mid- to long-term future and at having a shared comprehension considered in policy formulation, planning, and decision-making processes. Within the scope of the BLUEAIR project, a technological foresight (TF), intended as a probabilistic prediction of technological changes that may be affecting machines, systems, or procedures, was carried out with studies and interaction with technical experts.
In the framework of BLUEAIR TF activities quadruple helix actors are offered insights into future scenarios within the blue economy sectors. Specifically, the TF aims at endowing policymakers and stakeholders with a methodological approach, a tool and studies on a selection of foresight focus areas defined both during framework scanning activities and as emerged from the analysis of trends and priority areas. The focus of the technology foresight exercise is on marine and maritime technologies and fields of activities which are clean and ICT-supported and, in other words, technologies which share decarbonisation and sustainability as common objectives.
The document is structured into three main sections based on the technology foresight methodological approach and comprises designing the foresight exercise, collecting the inputs and analysing the results.
The first section, designing the foresight, outlines the framework activities needed to implement the fundamental steps of a foresight process and implies the definition of the target users, the setting of the objectives, the focus identification, the approach definition and the scope framing within a timeframe and a time horizon. The designing of the foresight exercise sets the scene for the studies and analyses that will follow by providing the borders of intervention.
The second section, collecting the inputs, focuses on a review of the state-of-the-art in technology and product development in the five selected blue economy areas: alternative fuels, robotics, ICT, waterborne transport, and aquaculture. This review describes the available technologies and products, analyses their relevance to sustainability goals, assesses the current market and industry status, and explores their potential, advantages, drawbacks, and critical areas for further research and development.
The third section, the analysis, comprehensively examines technologies and products related to the blue economy. It covers perspectives and key areas for future research and development, potential applications, and expected advancements and commercialization outlook from 2018 to 2030. Detailed technological profiles are provided for a selection of technologies and products, where the experts described their advantages compared to the current state of the art, their fields of application, the enabling factors or barriers, the leading players involved and the technological status. This section incorporates expert interviews and interactions to gather opinions and insights on prospects.
Further details on DT2.3.1- Technology foresight on key common technologies can be found on following link.
The BlueAir project is financed under the Interreg ADRION program, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the IPA II Fund.