Institute For Futures Research
Breakfast in Vredenburg

The Institute for Futures Research is a research institution of the University of Stellenbosch specialising in futures studies primarily as a support service for knowledge and strategic management.

It prepares and supports organisations to implement effective strategic planning. The Institute is internationally recognised for its research and teaching in futures studies. We divide that external environment into economic, technological, resources, ecological, social and political environments. The Institute explores these trends and others that could have a potential impact on the future of Associates. The IFR is the first and only institute for futures research on the African continent. These events provide an opportunity for engaging and debating with influential business leaders, strategic thinkers and decision-makers. All of the events provide time for you to interact with other attendees. Strategic planners, who need to ensure that they are well-prepared to meet the many challenges facing them, can obtain support from the Institute for Futures Research (IFR) which will assist them in planning and strategic foresight. Established in 1974, the IFR at the Stellenbosch University aims to provide a comprehensive service in business futuristics to decision-makers. Long-term economic structure studies with the aim to collect, analyse and disseminate information on the structural realities of the South African economy. The long-term implications emanating from these realities are analysed. Increasing attention is paid to the structural realities of the African economy. The aim of these studies is to collect, analyse and interpret information from a wide array of national and international sources regarding various demographic trends in South Africa and Africa, as well as globally, and to consider their implications for the business sector. Long-term population projections are regularly updated taking developments such as the impact of HIV/AIDS into consideration. The purpose of this on-going research project is to keep Associates aware of trends and developments in the general technological environment so that they can be proactive. Strategic management of technology (MoT) continues to receive significant attention in developed countries as a method of achieving and maintaining competitive advantage. Only a few South African organisations are applying the principles and some methods of the strategic management of technology. Of these, most are only partly aware of the importance of systematically managing technology, especially at the strategic level in the organisation. Political studies endevours to collect and analyse information regarding various political trends and to assess the implications they could have for business and politics. Information is obtained through ongoing research and networking with a wide range of foreign and local political analysts, researchers and organisations. The main purpose of these studies is to identify key long-term global and local trends that have an impact on sustainability and environmental developments. Sustainability has surfaced worldwide as a strong concern. National and local governments as well as business organisations will have to take cognisance of this on both planning and operational levels. Investigation into, and research about, the abovementioned trends and issues in other environments that have a bearing on strategic management decisions form the basis on which the IFR produces a range of publications that are made available to Associates.