Digital Megatrends
A perspective on the coming decade of digital disruption (2018)
This report explores plausible futures using methods of strategic foresight pioneered at CSIRO's Data61. We explore the coming decade of digital disruption through the lens of six interlinked megatrends using a Venn diagram to emphasise their interconnectedness. A megatrend is a significant shift in environmental, economic and social conditions that will play out over the coming decades. The concept was introduced by US professor John Naisbitt in his best-selling book of the same title in the early 1980s. Today's megatrends are widely used by large organisations, particularly in the technology sector, to describe trajectories of change taking us toward a new and different future.
Sunrise Industries
ASEAN Countries and their upcoming changes (2018)
Countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their neighbours will undergo significant social, economic and industrial change over the coming decades. Consumer incomes will rise, advanced technologies will be cheaper and more accessible, and economies will shift from industrial production to the provision of services.
First report of the Vietnam’s Future Digital Economy Project (2018)
With youth, innovation and investment, the people of Vietnam have good reason to be optimistic about the future of the economy, and development of the digital economy over the next 20 years. The paths that may be taken for the development and growth of Vietnam through digital transformation are not risk-free, however, and will need to be navigated carefully.
Opportunities for Growth
Driving forces creating economic opportunities for Queensland companies over the coming decades (2017)
This project was commissioned by the Queensland Futures Institute to examine opportunities for Queensland to leverage its competitive advantages, diversify traditional industries and explore new sectors to meet emerging demand at a national and global level. The findings of the report shaped a future-orientated narrative for Queensland’s new economy and one which can be used to inform future strategic, business and policy decisions.
Bright Futures
Spotlight on the wellbeing of young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds (2017)
This report drew on findings from the 2015 Bright Futures report, which identified megatrends affecting the wellbeing of young Victorians. Commissioned by VicHealth, in partnership with the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network, this report explored the impact of the Bright Futures megatrends on young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. It identified a number of key emerging questions and implications for future policy, research and practice.
Distributed Ledgers
Scenarios for the Australian economy over the coming decades (2017)
Funded by the Australian Government’s National Innovation Science Agenda, this project identified a set of four scenarios to illustrate the plausible adoption, risks and rewards of the technology in the future. This approach included scenarios that are aspirational and transformative, establish a new equilibrium and represent collapse. This report received significant media and stakeholder attention, and put forward a series of recommendations for governments, enterprises and start-ups.
IP Australia and the Future of Intellectual Property
Megatrends, scenarios and their strategic implications (2017)
IP Australia commissioned the Data61 Insight team to conduct a strategic foresight project into the future of intellectual property. This report provided an evidence-based review of the future operating environments that IP Australia may encounter, and informed the agency with respect to their strategic choices and long-term decision making. It did so by identifying plausible future megatrends and scenarios for intellectual property in Australia and their implications for IP Australia.
Past Reports
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Exploratory scenarios for Queensland's construction industry to 2036 (2016)
The Data61 Insight team was engaged by Construction Skills Queensland to identify scenarios for how buildings and infrastructure could be built by the year 2036, and their implications for skills and recruitment. Specifically, it explored critical trends and alternative scenarios for the future of Queensland’s construction workforce. The report was published and launched in August 2016, and is now influencing workforce planning in the Queensland construction sector.
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Equipping Australia's workforce for the future digital economy (2016)
This project was commissioned by TAFE Queensland and investigated how the vocational educational and training sector can best support Australia's future workforce. A key focus here was the evolving skills requirements inherent in the forthcoming digital disruption. The research provided valuable insights into the types of future skills and learning, and the ways of working that will likely be required in the future.
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Scenarios for Queensland in the year 2025 describing the marketplace for education, healthcare, policing, transport and other public services (2015)
This project was commissioned by the Queensland Government and identified four scenarios for Queensland's public service delivery out to 2025. These scenarios describe alternative and plausible futures for the delivery of public services such as healthcare, education, policing and transport. They are being used by the Queensland Government to make important strategic and operational choices about a multi-billion dollar service portfolio.
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Megatrends impacting the mental wellbeing of young Victorians (2015)
VicHealth commissioned this report to provide a clearer understanding of the future challenges and opportunities for young people in Victoria. This report has fuelled key conversations among government, practitioners and service providers and has led to subsequent collaborations with VicHealth, exploring trends for specific groups of vulnerable youth (e.g. the 2017 Bright Futures spotlight report on migrant and refugee youth report).
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Megatrends impacting Australian agriculture over the coming twenty years (2015)
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation commissioned CSIRO to perform a foresight study of Australia's agriculture and rural industries. It identified five key megatrends and a future narrative for rural industries in Australia over the next 20 years. This report aimed to help communities, individuals, companies and governments make informed and strategic decisions to secure better outcomes for Australian rural industries.
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Megatrends shaping the sports sector over coming decades (2013)
In this project, the Australian Sports Commission commissioned CSIRO to identify megatrends impacting high performance and broader community sporting activity. It was designed to inform decisions about Australian sport by constructing a narrative about the future. Launched by the former Minister Kate Lundy in 2013, this report has been used to inform sport policy by the Australian Government.
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Megatrends impacting the office, retail and industrial property sectors (2013)
This project, commissioned by the GPT Group, explored megatrends impacting the office, retail and industrial property sectors out to 2030. The report detailed six megatrends that would significantly alter the business context for GPT and outlined how GPT could respond to these risks and opportunities. Notably, the 'Behind the Scenes' megatrend identified the importance of logistics property as e-commerce becomes more prevalent, informing GPT's sizeable investment in logistics property.
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Towards sustained growth of the Australian chemicals and plastics industry (2013)
Extending on the 2013 Element of Everything report, this report took a market-centric approach in exploring pathways forward for sustainable growth in the chemicals and plastics industry. Among its findings, this report identified key market growth areas that are currently or expected to experience significant growth and the factors that will enable such growth. It was designed to inform future discussions and policy actions for industry and government.
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Current profile and future trends for the Australian chemicals and plastics industry (2013)
This project was jointly funded by the former Australian Plastics and Chemicals Industries Association (now Chemistry Australia) and the Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. It explored current and emerging trends and issues (including megatrends) within the chemicals and plastics industry. It was designed to inform long-term strategic decisions in the industry.
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Global megatrends that will change the way we live (2012)
This project, produced by CSIRO and led by Dr Stefan Hajkowicz, identified six social, economic and environmental megatrends which will have a major impact on Australia and the world over the next 20 years. The report has garnered widespread interest and has been used as the basis for numerous strategic planning workshops and exercises across Australian industry and government. Today, this global megatrends work continues to generate immense interest at forums and conferences across government, industry, university and community sectors.
