Foresight in Germany: the example of the Delphi '98 or: how can the futurebe shaped?

The German foresight experiences started at the beginning of the 1990s with a comprehensive Delphi study conducted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Sys tems and Innovation Research (ISI) on behalf of the Federal German Ministry for Science and Technology (BMFT, since 1994 BMBF). The second large Germa n Foresight study on the global development of science and technology - cal led Delphi '98 - was more concentrated on German needs to provide companies , ministries, research institutions or other interested actors in the R&D s ystem with information about the future. In the Delphi '98 not only emergin g technologies but also 19 general megatrends were asked about. The German Delphi process is organized with a steering group and expert panels for the creation of visionary topics, a two-round Delphi survey with a feedback lo op and an implementation phase with workshops and an Internet platform for the diffusion and discussion of the results. Some of them are described in this article. A follow-up process 'FUTUR' is supposed to continue the work of exploring and shaping the future.