Foresight in science and technology policy as participatory policy analysis

In this study the methods used for participative policy analyses in the field of science and technology policy in the Netherlands are evaluated. It is necessary to know in what sense the field of science and technology policy differs from other policy fields. In this paper foresights are considered as a form of participatory policy analyses. The foresight process in Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom are described to give an idea of how the foresight process is dealt with in different countries. Then the paper elaborates on the application of the foresight process in the Netherlands, where the scenario approach is used as a support tool.