Trends Identified
Science for the energy transition
The EU is defining a new set of energy policies that will shape the evolution of energy systems and markets towards 2030 and 2050, potentially transforming society in many ways. The 2030 Framework for Climate and Energy policies foresees a new European Governance Framework for integrating the plans, interests and concerns of all public and private actors.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Carbon dioxide reuse
For ages, CO2 has never been considered an issue worth dedicating significant scientific attention to. This has changed with the growing certainty about man-made climate change and the role of CO2 as a greenhouse gas: CO2 emissions need to be avoided or CO2 needs to be stored 'eternally' (Carbon Capture and Storage – CCS, see separate fiche). However, CO2 can also be used as a raw material in industrial processes, notably by using the carbon component (C) through chemical or biological reactions. Research and first pilot installations have started on a number of different technology paths (polymerisation, mineralisation, bio-engineering, etc.)
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies
Carbon capture and geological storage (CCS) is a technique for trapping carbon dioxide as it is emitted from large point sources, compressing it, and transporting it to a suitable storage site where it is injected into the ground. The technology of CCS has significant potential as a mitigation technique for climate change, both within Europe and internationally, particularly in those countries with large reserves of fossil fuels and a fast-increasing energy demand. Given the dominant role that fossil fuels continue to play in primary energy consumption, there is an urgent need to deployment CCS in Europe and beyond.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Hydrogen society
The Vision: a future in which millions of individual players can collect, produce and store locally generated renewable energy in homes, offices, factories, and vehicles, and share their power generation with each other across a Europe-wide intelligent hydrogen energy web.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Social sciences and humanities
Innovation in the service sector (75% of the EU economy) and social innovation are largely dependent from findings in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). SSH also allow understanding the changing multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious European societies faced by issues like inequalities, including gender inequalities, and ageing of population. SSH as such and SSH integrated in interdisciplinary research (e.g. on health, climate change and food) play a key role in long-term EU growth and quality of life. 50% of tertiary graduate students in Europe are coming from social sciences and humanities.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Social innovation
In addition to technological, product, process, organizational and marketing innovations, social innovation answers to pressing social demands that require the combination of actions coming from the market, the public sector and the civil society. Social innovation delivers results that are positive for economic and social cohesion (cf. new social problems, vulnerable groups, gender discriminations), create new social relationships and foster collaborative economy. Social innovation addresses societal and environmental challenges while improving collective wellbeing. Social innovations are particularly relevant in times of crises and budgetary constraints.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Behavioral science
People make mental shortcuts in order to make complex choices. These shortcuts help in many situations where fast reaction is needed. But when time is available to decide, a profounder thinking process is needed, which requires effort. The Human Behaviour can be studied and influenced. It is studied in Behavioural Science and it can be predicted in order to set conditions and choices so that desirable behaviour occurs; e.g. in relation to health, climate, energy and other policies. Behavioural Science is helping us to understand why and how we behave the way we do. Organ Donation Behaviour: Depending on whether the choice is "opt-out" or "opt-in" the rate of organ donors can vary from 10% in one country to 90% in another country.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Media an culture
The digital shift is having a profound and sometimes disruptive effect on creative ecosystems. New types of intermediaries between creators and consumers have emerged in the value chain. Co-creation of knowledge and culture through online social networks is a "game-changing" social innovation that empowers citizens and has the potential to address societal challenges. Users become ever more expert in creating their own user-generated content, as new cohorts of young people become adept at shaping and exploiting cultural and creative content through social media. Social media is poised to become the biggest component of mainstream media, in many cases at the expense of editorial media. Consumers’ appetite for new cultural formats and media – and their capacity to be active actors in this transformation - will depend on their ability to embrace the opportunities brought about by technology.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Future education and learning
Education bears ever-increasing importance as an enabler of economic, societal and political participation and is a core vehicle by which society's values are passed to the next generation. Yet education too has to adapt to a changing world – not just the knowledge and skills taught, but also materials, tools and pedagogies need to step into the digital era. Never before have the potentials for equity, access and quality of education been greater – and not since the 19th century has education gone through such a severe transformation. In the 12 months to June 2014 the number of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in- creased by 327%. Of those the 2625 MOOCs 597 were European.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Future smart cities
In the cities of the future, ICT will play a key role in the challenge of ensuring the wellbeing of large numbers of inhabitants. And cities will become smart. Smart cities will empower citizens by simplifying their daily life and providing them with more resources and opportunities, supporting new life styles, social inclusion and involvement in participatory governance. Policies, however, shall not understate the additional pressure on strategic sectors as logistics and transport and new risks and threats related to the large deployment of ICT (cybersecurity, data protection and privacy). 70% of the world population in 2050 will live in a city.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)