CA25141 - Futures Literacy for Anticipatory Societies – Strengthening Foresight Systems Across Europe (FLARE) (FLARE)

The Futures Literacy for Anticipatory Societies – FLARE Action aims to strengthen Europe’s collective capacity to engage with uncertainty, complexity, and transformation by embedding Futures Literacy (FL) across education, governance, and innovation. In response to global crises, fragmented foresight practices, and uneven anticipatory capacity, FLARE establishes a four-year, pan-European COST network that unites researchers, educators, policymakers, and practitioners to co-create shared frameworks, tools, and indicators for futures-oriented learning and decision-making.

The Action addresses conceptual fragmentation and the lack of standardised methods by consolidating theory, curating a methods library with ethics-by-design protocols, and validating assessment tools to measure learning and policy impact. It advances six objectives: building a common conceptual foundation; developing methodological and ethical standards; establishing shared indicators; mainstreaming FL in education and governance; fostering an inclusive, interdisciplinary network; and amplifying policy and societal impact through communication and sustainability strategies.

FLARE’s work is structured around four interconnected Working Groups: (1) theoretical and methodological foundations, (2) applied futures and education pathways, (3) assessment and evaluation, and (4) capacity building and impact development. Activities include Living Labs, training schools, Short-Term Scientific Missions, and dissemination through open repositories, policy briefs, and conferences.

By bridging disciplines and sectors, FLARE will transform fragmented initiatives into a coherent European foresight ecosystem, enhance anticipatory governance, and cultivate a more futures-literate society. Its legacy will be a durable European community of practice capable of shaping inclusive, democratic, and resilient futures aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Horizon Europe’s long-term vision.