Knowledge:
Knowledge is the awareness and understanding of facts, truths or information gained in the form of experience or learning (a posteriori), or through introspection (a priori). Knowledge is an appreciation of the possession of interconnected details which, in isolation, are of lesser value. As regards Foresight activities, it is useful to distinguish formalised knowledge, (in books, papers, etc.), and tacit knowledge which is based on experience feedback and is mostly locked up in experts brains. This is similar to the distinction between intangible output and tangible output. Knowledge, in the form of the knowledge economy, is now a priority for policy-makers. Thus, the strategic goal for Europe in 2010 was set at the Lisbon European Council in March 2000 as: to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.This expression stresses the fact that in our modern societies, the most valuable asset is intangible, human and social capital and that the key factors are knowledge and creativity.
National Foresight:
National Foresight is Foresight with a territorial focus on a whole nation. It therefore aims to inform and guide decisions that are taken at at national level. Besides national Foresight there are also issue driven Foresight exercises operating on a national level. Often these are referred to as national Foresight as well.
Networking:
Networking refers to the activity of creating, expanding and maintaining networks. In the specific case of Foresight these are normally social and business networks. Networks represent an intangible output of a Foresight exercise. The emphasis on the role of networking varies between Foresight exercises. It is often taken to be equally important, if not more so, than more tangible outputs such as reports or recommendations.
