Identifying expected areas of future innovation by combining foresight outputs

Purpose – This paper attempts to examine the efficacy of combining outputs from a foresight exercise by different methods to get information for discussion on strategies of sustainable growth through science and technology. It seeks to address the combination of outputs in an objective manner to identify expected areas of future innovation toward the desired future as well as related areas that are supposed to play a key part.Design/methodology/approach – Three investigative studies using the Delphi method, scenario and workshop were conducted independently in consideration of four global or national challenges. The points of the studies are interdisciplinary or diversified discussion and a mission‐oriented approach. Information from the Delphi method and scenario is converged using text mining to position scientific and technological areas in a big picture.Findings – Combining outputs reveals the whole picture of scientific and technological areas, including specific areas and common factors to be promot...