AnticipaTech – The Scenario Game

How can we prepare for a future that cannot be predicted? AnticipaTech combines scientific trend research with an interactive Scenario Game that brings alternative futures to life and encourages critical reflection on potential developments and their implications.

The project was jointly developed by the Bavarian Foresight-Institute at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt and armasuisse Science & Technology through its technology foresight programme, deftech. Its aim is to investigate the potential implications of emerging technologies in the context of long-term societal developments and make Strategic Foresight accessible to a broad range of audiences.

As part of the project, eleven technological trends and fourteen global megatrends were systematically examined. The resulting AnticipaTech Report explores their development, key uncertainties, and potential implications for business, society, and security. A cross-impact analysis was also conducted to examine the interactions and interdependencies between these trends.

Building on this research, the AnticipaTech Scenario Game was developed as a collaborative workshop format that translates the findings of the report into an interactive exploration of possible futures.

The game guides participants through a structured scenario development process using trend cards and two canvases.

Canvas 01 - Develop Your Own Future Scenario

Teams define their area of focus and time horizon, select relevant technological and megatrends, and combine them into a coherent future scenario. They then explore potential implications for their industry or organisation and identify initial strategic responses.

Canvas 02 - Explore Alternative Futures

In the second stage, teams explore four established scenario archetypes: Continued Growth, Collapse, Discipline, and Transformation. By applying their initial ideas to alternative future developments, participants challenge their existing assumptions and consider different possible pathways.

The Scenario Game offers a flexible format, ranging from a 30- to 45-minute introductory session to more extensive workshops lasting several hours.

AnticipaTech offers a practical approach to strategic foresight. Working together on future scenarios helps participants to examine technological and societal changes from different perspectives, identify opportunities and risks, and stimulate strategic discussions.

The format is aimed at businesses, public sector organisations, research institutions, institutions of higher education and anyone wishing to engage systematically with possible futures. The Scenario Game has already been successfully played worldwide with a wide variety of groups in different contexts.

All materials required to organise and conduct the Scenario Game independently are available free of charge. If you are interested in a facilitated workshop, please feel free to contact us at.

• AnticipaTech Report: Scientific analysis of technological and megatrends, their potential implications, and interactions.
• Trend Cards: Technological and megatrends presented in an accessible format to support scenario development.
• Scenario Game Canvas 01 & 02: Print-ready templates for both stages of the game.
• User Guide: Game instructions, preparation guidelines, workshop variations, and facilitation recommendations.
• Video Tutorial: A step-by-step introduction to the Scenario Game.

The materials can be adapted to different questions and workshop contexts. Please refer to the User Guide for attribution and reuse requirements.

Project partner: armasuisse Science & Technology / deftech

Project duration: 11/23 - 11/24

Further development: AnticipaTech lays the foundation for AnticipaLead, the follow-on leadership game