Innovation-system foresight in practice: A Nordic facilities management foresight

Several studies have explored the interconnection between the stra-tegic foresight literature and the innovation-systems literature. This paper adds to these studies by investigating how theoretical elements of the innovation-system approach can contribute to the design and practice of strategic foresight processes. The paper originates in a practical foresight project in the Nordic fa-cilities management (FM) industry. The goal of the foresight project was to identify possible futures of the FM sector in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden) and, based on the findings, to establish a pro-posal for a common Nordic FM research agenda. As such, the paper’s focus is on strategic foresight for priority setting in longer-term research activities in a sectoral innovation-system – in contrast to national or regional innovation sys-tems and in opposition to corporate foresight in individual firms.