Detecting and analysing emerging science and technology issues: the EFMN Issue Analysis Sylvie Rijkers-Defrasne, Effie Amanatidou, Anette Braun and Agnes Pechmann Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight the contribution of the EFMN Issue Analysis to the identification of key emerging science and technology issues of high relevance for European policies, as well as to the development of future European science and technology policy priorities. As such, it describes the experience of the past three EFMN Issue Analyses (2005 to 2007), which focused on ‘‘Cognitive Science’’ (2005), ‘‘Healthy Ageing’’ (2006) and ‘‘Emerging Knowledge-based Economy and Society’’ (2007). Design/methodology/approach – The annual EFMN Issue Analysis aims at selecting and analysing one key emerging science and technology issue that is relevant for European Union policies. The selection is based on the screening and analysis of recent international foresights along a set of predefined criteria. Findings – The paper highlights future socio-economic perspectives and S&T developments coming along with the topics ‘‘Cognitive Science’’, ‘‘Healthy Ageing’’ and ‘‘Emerging Knowledge-based Economy and Society’’, as well as policy recommendations as emerged from the respective expert workshop discussions. The paper also reflects on the methodology used, and experience of, and the lessons learned from the last three Issue Analyses. Practical implications – This paper is of interest for foresight practitioners and policy-makers at European level, as well as at national or regional level in European Member States. Originality/value – The paper highlights the role of the EFMN Issue Analysis in providing the basis for well-informed (science and technology) policy-making. Keywords Sciences, Emergent strategy, Knowledge society, Forecasting Paper type General review 1. The EFMN Issue Analysis The aim of the EFMN Issue Analysis is to exploit the results of international foresight activities as a valuable source of information for identifying key emerging science and technology issues of high relevance for European policies, as well as contributing to the development of future European science and technology policy priorities. Hence, on an annual basis, the Issue Analysis of the EFMN project: B exploits the outputs of the mapping of foresight exercises in the EFMN foresight database Dynamo[1] as well as of the EFMN Foresight Briefs[2] available from the EFMN website and identifies, assesses and analyses the key ‘‘emerging issues’’ – with a focus on science and technology (S&T) issues – that emerge from foresight activities carried out at national, supranational or regional level all over the world; B combines and synthesises these findings on one issue, selected as most relevant to discrete policy areas of the EC; B prepares, convenes and reports upon an annual workshop involving the European Commission and external experts; PAGE 90 j foresight j VOL. 10 NO. 6 2008, pp. 90-102, Q Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1463-6689 DOI 10.1108/14636680810918595 Sylvie Rijkers-Defrasne and Anette Braun are Policy Consultants at VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH, Du ¨ sseldorf, Germany. Effie Amanatidou is a Research and Innovation Policy Analyst, Thessaloniki, Greece. Agnes Pechmann is a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences Oldenburg/Ostfriesland/ Wilhelmshaven, Emden, Germany.