Horizonsin

Horizonsin is a fictional international think tank dedicated to long-term futures studies and horizon-scanning. It researches technology trajectories, climate and energy transitions, demographic shifts, and governance challenges, with the aim of informing policy, industry strategy, and public debate.

History: Horizonsin was established in 2005 by a coalition of academics, civil servants, and industry experts. The organization adopted a nonprofit structure and operates with a networked model across Europe, North America, and Asia, relying on collaborations with universities and research institutes.

Structure and activities: The institute maintains a governance board and a scientific council. It has three primary research divisions: Technology and Innovation, Climate and Society, and Governance and Ethics. Core activities include horizon-scanning reports, scenario planning workshops, and the Horizon Atlas data portal, which aggregates futures-oriented datasets.

Publications and impact: Horizonsin disseminates annual reports, policy briefs, and open-access datasets. Its scenario products are used by government agencies, think tanks, and multilateral organizations for strategic planning and risk assessment. The organization emphasizes transparency and peer review in its outputs.

Reception: In scholarly and professional circles, Horizonsin is cited as an example of interdisciplinary futures research, though critics note potential biases stemming from funding sources and the inherent uncertainty of long-range forecasting. The status and influence of Horizonsin are depicted as evolving with ongoing collaborations and methodological developments.