(This list is intended only to provide examples of companies operating in this sector, and should not be taken as a recommendation of their services.)
The Future Foundation
www.futurefoundation.net
One of the UK's leading research-based, commercial think-tanks, with a focus on consumer markets.
The Henley Centre
www.henleycentre.com
One of Europe's leading strategic marketing consultancies. Part of the WPP Group.
Seymour Powell Foresight
www.seymourpowell.com
Linked to the product designers Seymour Powell, the firm's Foresight unit conducts design-related studies into the future.
The Local Futures Group
www.localfutures.com
A research and strategy consultancy that provides a geographical perspective on urban regeneration.
Gartner
www.gartner.com
Headquartered in Connecticut, Gartner has 700 analysts worldwide and is one of the best-known forecasters of IT. It pioneered the concept of ‘hype cycles’ in the field.
IDC
www.idc.com
Same-size rivals of Gartner in IT. Worldwide HQ is in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Forrester Research
www.forrester.com
With an international network centred on Cambridge, Massachusetts, Forrester is a smaller but still reputable rival of Gartner, and IDC.
Science Policy Research Unit
www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/
Arguably Britain's premier academic resource on the future of science, technology and innovation.
Kent Business School
www.kent.ac.uk/kbs
Richard Scase, Emeritus Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Canterbury Business School, is the author of the widely acclaimed Britain in 2010: the changing business landscape (Capstone, 2000)
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
www.oecd.org
Based in Paris, these prestigious economists report on countries and industries, and run research programmes on ageing, energy and future studies.
Economist Intelligence Unit
www.ebusinessforum.com
www.eiu.com
The research reports arm of the Economist empire.
Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies
www.cifs.dk/en
The Institute has more than 15 researchers dedicated to helping private and public organisations make better decisions. Its website is translated into English.
Futuribles
www.futuribles.com
Futuribles, headquartered in Paris, has for years explored what it calls ‘possible futures’. Its website is translated into English, and abstracts of papers published in the journal Futuribles are free.
Office of National Statistics
www.statistics.gov.uk
Publishers of Social Trends and much besides.
Harvard Business Review
www.hbr.org
The most trend-setting US monthly publication on management issues.
John Wiley & Sons Ltd
www.wiley.com
Publishers of the Journal of Consumer Behaviour, Interactive Marketing, etc.
Strategy+business
www.strategy-business.com
Management consultants Booz Allen Hamilton publish this quarterly rival to the Harvard Business Review .
World Future Society
www.wfs.org
Founded in 1966 in Washington, this group of sociologists, scientists, corporate planners, educators, students and retirees boasts 25,000 members in more than 80 countries, as well as local chapters in more than 100 cities.
McKinsey Quarterly
www.mckinseyquarterly.com
As early as the 1960s, McKinsey consulted for the majority of Britain's top 100 industrial companies. Its influence remains undimmed.
Worldwatch Institute
www.worldwatch.org
America's 'deep Green' think-tank is a top Washington lobbying group and has a research section on energy, economy, nature and people.
The Institute for Sustainable Futures
www.isf.uts.edu.au
Founded in 1996 at the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, the Institute evangelises for sustainable design.
Green Futures
www.greenfutures.org.uk
Started in 1996 by Jonathan Porritt and published by the think-tank charity Forum for the Future, this is the home page of a UK bi-monthly magazine on environmental solutions and futures.