As part of a joint research project between the Fraunhofer Institute for Technological Trend Analysis (Fraunhofer INT) and the Chair of Technology and Innovation at the Liechtenstein Business School, a research workshop on the topic of “Data Driven Foresight and Technological Trend Analysis” took place on the campus of the University of Liechtenstein from August 7 to 9, 2024.

Public Lecture as the Workshop Highlight

The highlight of the visit was a public lecture by researchers from Fraunhofer INT, held as part of the university's INNOPro Talks seminar series. The exciting presentation by Dr. Marcus John, Head of the KATI Lab, and Melanie Martini, Research Associate and PhD candidate at the KATI Lab in Euskirchen (Germany), was titled: “Is the Future in the Data? Data Driven Foresight as a Method of Future Studies.”

This theme also guided the three-day workshop, which focused on identifying and utilizing alternative data sources for technology foresight. The participants exchanged experiences on producing data-driven trend studies, conducted project-specific data analyses, and discussed plans to deepen the partnership between Fraunhofer INT and the University of Liechtenstein.

Besides the academic discussions, special attention was given to practical applications and creating connections with companies from the Rhine Valley and Lake Constance region.

Regional Engagement and Partnership Visibility

During the interactive lecture on Thursday afternoon, Prof. Dr. Leo Brecht and his team welcomed attendees from the region and used the occasion to publicly highlight the cross-border collaboration between Fraunhofer INT and the University of Liechtenstein.

Following the successful workshop and the kickoff of the INNOPro Talks in cooperation with Fraunhofer INT, the Chair of Technology and Innovation is looking forward to offering more expert talks along the innovation process. The team also plans to deepen the topic of Data Driven Foresight within specialized topic labs and the MBA program in Technology & Innovation at the University of Liechtenstein.

Participants and Outlook

From the University of Liechtenstein, the following participants took part:

• Prof. Dr. Leo Brecht
• Marie Scheuffele
• Niels Fetkenheuer
• Thomas Beales (all from the Chair of Technology and Innovation)
• Dr. Djordje Zivkovic (Chair of Strategic Management)

Further information about the Fraunhofer Institute for Technological Trend Analysis can be found here.