Outsights was commissioned by the UK Government's Foresight Department to produce an authoritative scan of future trends to 2050 to inform its futures work and policy making across all government Departments.

In partnership with Ipsos MORI, Outsights led the development of the Sigma Scan (www.sigmascan.org), an online database of quality assured papers on future issues and trends to 2050, drawn from more than 2,000 futures sources  including think tanks, academic publications, mainstream media, corporate foresight, expert/strategic thinkers, government sources, alternative journals, charities/NGOs, blogs, minority communities, futurists and interviews with 300 leading thinkers.

The Scan was commissioned under former UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir David King, who said at its launch in 2006:

"We're not in the business of predicting the future, but we do need to explore the broadest range of different possibilities to help ensure government is prepared in the long-term and considers issues across the spectrum in its planning. The Scans are aimed at stimulating debate and critical discussion to enhance government's short and long term policy and strategy."

Outsights has been working with the UK Government Foresight Department to embed this futures thinking across Whitehall over the past three years, combining the content of the Sigma Scan with our futures thinking process and facilitation.

Some projects directly benefiting from this project include:

• Families in Britain: an evidence paper (DCSF, December 2008)
• Scenarios for the Future International Environment 2010-2020 (DIUS, May 2008)
• Challenges and Opportunities in Identity Assurance (HM Treasury, March 2008)
• Food Matters - Towards a Strategy for the 21st Century (Cabinet Office, January 2008)
• Tackling Obesities: Future Choices (GO-Science, October 2007)
• Long-term opportunities and challenges for the UK: analysis for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (HM Treasury, November 2006)
• Future of Asian Trade with the UK (UKTI, March 2006)

Tomorrow's World Today: Outsights On the Challenges of Horizon Scanning

A review of the Sigma Scan programme (www.sigmascan.org) developed by Outsights and Ipsos MORI for the UK Government, and how it can lead to action.

UK Government Futures

A wide survey of futures thinking in Government with projects completed by Outsights using the Sigma Scan (www.sigmascan.org) and scenario thinking.