Keynote 1 by Juraj Nociar, Head of Cabinet of Vice-President for the Inter-institutional relations and Foresight & Keynote panel

09:45 - 10:45 CET

Foresight is “the discipline of exploring, anticipating and shaping the future”. It aims to create a systemic way to prepare the EU for future developments. 

On the 8th of September 2021, the European Commission adopted its second annual “Strategic Foresight Report-the EU’s capacity and freedom of action”. This Communication sets out a forward-looking and multidisciplinary approach to the EU’s open strategic autonomy in a highly contested global arena. It also presents uncertainties and challenges that will affect and shape Europe’s future.
In the report, the Commission identified four main global trends that affect the EU’s capacity and freedom to act: climate change and environmental challenges, digital hyperconnectivity and technological transformations, pressure on democracy and values, shifts in the global order and demography’.

The Foresight report aims to illuminate possible policy responses for the EU’s strategic autonomy and sets out 10 key areas of action to strengthen its global leadership and freedom to act.
Prepared annually, Strategic Foresight Reports inform the priorities of the annual State of the Union speech, the Commission Work Programme and multi-annual programming contributing in shaping the EU strategic initiatives.

Given the good impact created by the 2021 edition and the growing importance in the EU Agenda of the Green and Digital Transition, the 2022 edition of the strategic report will be focused on the Twin Transition and emerging technologies. This new documents promises to be impactful and inspiring also for the R&I sector with expected impacts on the Horizon Europe priorities definition.
 

Keynote panel

Keynote panel with Juraj Nociar, Evelina Brännvall and Mari Sundli Tveit, moderated by Sarah Richardson.
 

Speaker

Juraj Nociar, Head of Cabinet of Vice-President for the Inter-institutional relations and Foresight 

Juraj Nociar was Head of Cabinet of Mr Maroš Šefčovič as Vice-President for the Energy Union, from 2014 to 2019 and Head of Cabinet of Mr. Šefčovič during his term as Commissioner for inter-institutional relations and administration, from 2010 to 2014. Before joining the European Commission Mr. Nociar have been twice posted at the Permanent Representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU, recently as the Deputy Permanent Representative and held several positions in the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs, notably the Director for Economic and Legal Relations with the EU and the Director General for European Affairs.