PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT - SCENARIOS OF OMFB (NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT) TEP WORK GROUP

Abstract

Technology foresight – a systematic means of assessing that scientific and technological development which could have a strong impact on industrial competitiveness, wealth creation and quality of life – provides an essential tool to this end. Hungary launched her foresight programme in 1997. As the country is undergoing fundamental economic and social changes – that is, the transition towards market economy – major institutions are currently shaped. Foresight has seemed an adequate tool to bring together business, the science base and government in order to identify and respond to emerging opportunities in markets and technologies. The former socio-economic system has been influential concerning the organisation and management of TEP, too. It has been a well-considered, conscious decision from the very beginning not to involve anybody from the OMFB to run the programme (from a professional point of view, i.e. decision on panel topics, issues to be analysed, priority-setting, etc.). The Natural and Built Environment scenarios relating to the expectable state of the Hungarian built and natural environment come from the presumption that Hungary will become part of the European big-regional world economic centre in the medium run that is it will join the EU. Therefore, the future of Hungary in the next 30 years (up to 2030) was examined in relation to the EU regarding all the three scenarios.