The Millennium Project

CIAO DATE: 2/99

Brief Overview of the Millennium Project

International Studies Association
40th Annual Convention
Washington, D.C.
February 16–20, 1999

The Millennium Project provides an international capacity for early warning and analysis of global long-range issues, opportunities, and strategies. It was initiated by the American Council for the United Nations University (AC/UNU) in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution, The Futures Group, and the United Nations University (UNU). Its three-year feasibility study with 200 futurists and scholars from 50 countries was funded by the US EPA, UNDP, and UNESCO. This study concluded that the purpose of the Project should be to assist in organizing futures research, update and improve global thinking about the future, and make that thinking available through a variety of media for consideration in public policy making, advanced training, public education, and feedback to create cumulative wisdom about potential futures. Today, the Project accomplishes these ends by connecting individuals and institutions around the world to collaborate on research to address important global issues. The project is not a one-time study of the future, but provides an on-going capacity as a geographically and institutionally dispersed think tank. It was selected among the 100 Best Practices by UN Habitat, among best 7 foresight organizations by US Office of Energy, among “Top Picks for 1997” by Future Survey, and the international journal Technological Forecasting & Social Change annually dedicates an entire issue to its annual State of the Future.

The Millennium Project’s primary products include:

On-going assessment of what are the most significant long-range issues and opportunities, as well as focused analysis of policies and agencies to address them;
Communications network of futurists and scholars with an international information system of futures research that provides public access;
An annual state-of-the-future report (based on an integration of others’ forecasts and the Project’s own work, and built on the foundation of the previous year’s report);
Special studies such as Lessons and Questions from History, Future of Africa, Futures Research Methodology, and Environmental Security;
and Advanced training in the methodology and analysis of critical issues and opportunities of the future.

Coordinated by the AC/UNU, the Project works with U.N. Organizations, governments, corporations, NGOs, universities, and individuals. To interconnect global and local thinking, ten “Nodes” (groups of individuals and institutions) have been established to conduct the work of the project located in Beijing, Buenos Aires, Cairo, Lismore (Australia), London, Madurai (India), Moscow, Olomouc (Czech Republic), Tehran, and Tokyo. To connect research to implementation, policy leaders are interviewed by the Project’s Nodes as part of the assessment of proposed actions to address issues and opportunities.

Phase 1 of the feasibility study began in 1992 with funding from US EPA to identify and link futurists and scholars around the world to create the initial design of the Project and conduct a first test on population and environmental issues. In 1993/94 during Phase II, a series of reports were created on futures research methodology and long-range issues important to Africa funded by UNDP. Phase III, conducted in 1994/95 under the auspices of the UNU/WIDER and funded by UNESCO through the AC/UNU, concluded with the final feasibility study report. Sponsors for the operational program have been the Ford Motor Company, Monsanto Company, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Alan F. Kay and Hazel Henderson Foundation for Social Innovation, Motorola Corporation, Army Environmental Policy Institute, Hughes Space and Communications, Shell International (Royal Dutch Shell), Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Deloitte & Touche, and General Motors.

The Project has produced the methodology series: Frontiers of Futures Studies: A Handbook on Tools and Methods; a six part series: Africa in 2025; and two annual reports: 1997 and 1998 State of the Future. Other research is available at http://millennium-project.org. The project — a system for a diverse cross-section of creative and knowledgeable people to think together about it’s common future — can be thought of as a gift from our millennium to the next.