PURPOSE

The Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies is an independent, non-profit think tank founded in 1969, at the initiative of Professor Thorkil Kristensen, former Danish Minister and Secretary-General of OECD. 

Our purpose is to help people and organisations imagine, work with, and shape their future. 

Through futures studies, strategic foresight, and the dissemination of knowledge, we seek to inform decision-making and contribute to positive societal development in Denmark and beyond. By developing the capabilities to navigate uncertainty and strengthening futures agency, we help society be better equipped to anticipate change, and act with greater confidence towards the future. In doing so, we contribute to a society better fit to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead. We empower you with the skills to act on the future. 

We do this through independent research and our distinctive approach to futures studies and foresight. Drawing on more than 50 years of experience and contributions to the field, we work globally with organisations across the public, private, academic, and civic sectors, while making our research and insights accessible to the wider public. 

The Institute is independent of commercial and political interests. As a non-profit, all profits are reinvested in research and initiatives to advance our reach and purpose. Our vision is a futures literate world in which everyone has the right and mandate to engage with the future. We firmly believe that broadening participation in shaping the future can contribute to greater prosperity, equality, resilience and well-being for people, societies, and the planet. 

‍Our commitment extends beyond our own work. We support international efforts to strengthen futures thinking and give greater voice to future generations, including the United Nations’ Pact for the Future and Declaration on Future Generations, and the European Union’s growing emphasis on intergenerational fairness and anticipatory governance. We seek to put these principles into practice through our research, partnerships, and engagement with the wider futures community.