Future-focused research: IPU explores Parliamentary innovations across the globe
The United Nations Development Programme defines Parliamentary Committees for the Future, which exist under various names, as “parliamentary bodies responsible for issues related to anticipating and prospecting the future in the context of parliamentary activity”. The first such committee was established by the Parliament of Finland in 1993, pioneering a parliamentary approach to addressing long-term national strategies and future challenges.
In recent years, parliaments in several countries, including Chile, Lithuania, the Philippines and Uruguay, have adopted similar approaches by establishing committees to consider future generations, identify upcoming opportunities and threats, and discuss long-term strategies. Since 2022, the Inter-Parliamentary Union has co-hosted the World Summit of the Committees of the Future as a platform to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
Given the inherent complexity of forecasting, expert support is required to strengthen the scientific and professional foundations of this exercise. This need has driven the creation of specialized parliamentary structures dedicated to future studies. Some parliaments, albeit still relatively few in number, have established internal research units focused on future studies. These are described in this case study.
The Estonian Parliament: Foresight Centre
The Foresight Centre, established in 2016 under the Foresight Act, is a think tank operating within the Chancellery of the Estonian Parliament. The Centre analyses long-term societal developments, identifies new trends and drafts future scenarios, enabling MPs to address future risks and opportunities from a forward-looking perspective.
The Centre conducts between three and five foresight projects each year. Each project is overseen by a lead group, which consists of government officials, academic specialists and MPs working on the subject matter. The Centre also functions as a knowledge-sharing hub, organizing policy conferences that bring together MPs, researchers and representatives from international organizations.
The Foresight Act specifies that the Centre is independent in the performance of its duties. To uphold this independence, the Act also established the Foresight Council, a council of five experts in research, business and technology appointed by parliament, the President and academia to oversee the Centre’s activities. The Council’s responsibilities include approving the foresight action plan, evaluating the use of the budget, and assessing the completed monitoring and analyses.
Parliamentary committees, political parties, businesses, and organizations in the research and technology fields may submit proposals for foresight studies. Recent research topics have included the future of economic competitiveness (2024), green transition trends and scenarios in Estonia and active consumers in the future energy system (both 2023).
Republic of Korea: National Assembly Futures Institute
The National Assembly Futures Institute (NAFI), founded in 2018 under the National Assembly Futures Institute Act, is a specialized research organization within the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. Its primary function is to support the legislature in policymaking by anticipating future challenges and analysing various policy alternatives.
The NAFI operates under a collaborative research model, engaging experts from academia and external think tanks to encompass a wide range of perspectives and expertise. It organizes policy forums on critical issues such as demographic changes, the climate crisis and pension reform, providing a platform for lawmakers and experts to jointly explore and develop effective solutions.
The NAFI’s independence, autonomy and political neutrality are legally guaranteed. It is governed by a board of directors composed of experts recommended by each parliamentary party. The board is responsible for approving annual plans, overseeing budget execution and conducting other governance tasks.
Opinions on potential research topics are gathered annually from each committee, and the annual research plan is approved by the board. Examples of recent research topics include AI digital textbooks and future education, strategies for sustainable development of the fisheries industry in an era of climate crisis (both 2024) and medium to long-term strategy for population change and government (2023).
UK Parliament: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) was established in 1989, initially with temporary funding. It became a permanent institution of the UK Parliament in 2001. It provides science and technology insights to members of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, analyses future trends, and fosters collaboration between parliamentarians and researchers.
One notable activity of POST is horizon scanning, which focuses on emerging trends and provides anticipatory analysis to help parliament address upcoming challenges. In order to provide more reliable and impartial research evidence, POST facilitates the involvement of experts from various fields in activities such as identifying topics, conducting interviews and reviewing reports.
POST upholds a commitment to non-partisan, peer-reviewed research. It is overseen by a board that ensures political balance and includes members from both houses as well as external experts recommended by the National Academies. The board meets quarterly to provide strategic guidance on research topics, ensuring that POST’s future work aligns closely with the evolving priorities and interests of parliament.
Parliamentary committees can request research on topics of interest from POST through methods such as publishing Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) or issuing calls for evidence. Recent releases have covered topics including climate and environmental risks: governance challenges, innovation and technology in agriculture and alternative foods and artificial intelligence: education and impacts on children and young people (all 2024).
Foresight Centre of the Estonian Parliament
