Foresight as a triple helix of industry, university, and government relations

Purpose - This paper attempts to interpret Foresight in the light of the Triple Helix concept. Design/methodology/approach - The paper explores, in the light of the Triple Helix framework, the architecture of a Technology Foresight project which was carried out in Piemonte (Italy) in 2006, where government, firms, universities, research organizations and financial institutions were gathered to discuss on the long-term implications of policy decisions and to develop strategic visions that could help policy making and priority setting. Findings - Drawing on its participative approach, Foresight can be seen as a way of catalyzing the multidisciplinary relationships among the three different spheres of the Triple Helix model, thus bringing them to dialogue and to share a common space for building visions on long-term challenges. Participation of stakeholders with different backgrounds, dynamics of overlapping opinions, emergence of hybrid organizations and exchange of formal roles are some of the elements characterizing a Foresight exercise that reflect a Triple Helix configuration. Originality/value - The value of the paper is in exploring a Foresight exercise through the lenses of the Triple Helix model.