Corporate Foresight

With this goal in mind, the team is concentrating its efforts on two main areas of focus: First, on innovation foresight as an instrument with which to develop new, solidly future-viable fields of business for Evonik over a timeline of 10 to 15 years. Rather than thinking strictly in terms of what is technologically possible, this team is approaching its assignment chiefly from the vantage point of what the market needs, using trend analysis to identify the future challenges liable to engage tomorrow’s market. Once identified, the team will join forces with the business units and with Process Technology & Engineering to establish an appropriate context for specialty chemicals and define concrete projects of significant revenue potential for Evonik.

The second main focus of the Corporate Foresight Team is strategic foresight. The well-established scenario technique it employs is a valuable strategic-dialog tool. Scenario projects are used to map out future scenarios of downscaled complexity, thereby producing a more easily comprehendible foundation for decision-making processes. Alternative future scenarios provide bases on which to formulate and discuss the various possible developments liable to strongly affect our business. This portfolio of scenarios facilitates the early identification of corporate opportunities and risks, while also serving to test existing strategies and to expand the horizon for possible new courses of enterprise action.