The Role of Think Tanks in Megatrends Analysis and Future Research

This paper aims to explore the interconnection between megatrends analysis, future research, and the work of think tanks. Policymakers, business leaders, and asset managers have shown a growing interest in megatrends analysis and future research, which is leading to increased visibility for some think tanks across countries and world regions. We argue that a growing number of think tanks are involved in driving megatrends discourses. Think tanks also make contributions to future research and strategic foresight. Given the lack of research and statistics on the involvement of think tanks in megatrends and future research, this paper draws on exchanges and interviews with diverse think tanks and the consultation of reports of think tanks and a few online publications of scholars and analysts. Eight short case studies demonstrate different levels of engagement of think tanks with megatrends and future research. They confirm the relevance of the topics to the work of the think tank community even though megatrends and future research have not yet been introduced as categories for the classification of think tanks by leading ranking projects.