Megatrends may seem quaint in current complex, even chaotic times. What use are depictions of long-term changes, when everything seems so rapid and the focus should be on surprises, wild cards, discontinuities and emerging issues? But perhaps in turbulent times there is a growing need for some kind of frame or a map, no matter how flawed, as a starting point for sensemaking. The megatrends 2020 report by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra is used as an example of such a map, with instructions and caveats on its use.

April 9, 2020