Technology Foresight for Industry Sector: A Strategy for Sustainable Development
Badar Sultan Minhas, Aleem Ahmed, M. Khalid Siddiq, Rashid Nadeem, Waris Ali Gabol

Abstract
Purpose
“To develop a strategic and coherent view of the challenges, threats and opportunities associated with the Industry sector in Pakistan’s economy” and 2. “To provide a nation-wide demonstration of the application and value of technology foresight techniques in addressing an issue of great and long-term significance.
Research Design
STEEPV which is an acronym for (Social, Technological, Environmental, Economic, Political and Values) is an internationally recognized tool for brainstorming used in conducting Technology Foresight worldwide. This tool was used in the Technology Foresight for Industrial sector of Pakistan. Through this tool the Expert panel members identified various issues and drivers falling under the above mentioned 6 categories. Furthermore, scenarios were built on the basis of most important and uncertain drivers. A list of actions, policies, future viable projects and roadmap was devised by the panel members. There were about 25 experts who participated in the panel meetings, while suggestions of few experts were taken through e-mails. The experts were from diverse backgrounds, including public sector, private sector, chamber of commerce & industries, Academia, and entrepreneurs.
Findings
Most of the experts focused on promotion of entrepreneurship at national level and consistency of national industrial friendly policy for sustainable development of industrial sector. Apart from this a need for market based research and use of technology transfer to industry for the commercialization purpose was highlighted. Another point of emphasis was focus on the high value export sectors and find ways to reduce imports and increase exports.


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