Mega-trend frameworks

Among many other tools, futurists also use mega-trend frameworks to support foresight and futures thinking.

Several megatrend frameworks are widely used across foresight, strategy, policy, and innovation domains. Below are the most prominent ones, with their core features and uses:

1. OECD Megatrends Framework

Focus: Global policy, long-term public governance.

Core categories:

• Demographic change

• Climate and environmental pressures

• Technological change

• Shifting global power

• Social and values evolution

Use: Anticipatory governance, policy planning.

2. WEF (World Economic Forum) Megatrends

Focus: Global risks and opportunity spaces.

Framed in their “Global Risks Report”.

Categories often include:

• Climate action failure

• Technological disruption

• Geoeconomic fragmentation

• Societal polarization

• Future of work and inequality

Use: Strategic foresight for global businesses and policymakers.

3. EY Megatrends

Focus: Business and economic disruption.

Five key megatrends:

• Future of work

• Technology acceleration

• Urbanization

• Demographic shifts

• Resource scarcity & climate change

Use: Corporate strategy, transformation roadmaps.

4. PwC ADAPT Framework

Focus: Navigating disruption in business and policy.

ADAPT =

• Asymmetry

• Disruption

• Age (demographics)

• Polarization

• Trust

• 
  

Use: C-suite risk assessment, scenario building.

5. UNDP & UN Megatrends

Focus: Sustainable development, human security.

Recurring themes:

• Climate and planetary boundaries

• Inequality

• Technological governance

• Conflict and fragility

• Urbanization

Use: SDG alignment, national development strategies.

6. Futures Platform & Frost & Sullivan

Focus: Dynamic, tech-driven trends.

Structured as “trend radar” or “trend clusters”

• Topics include:

• Smart cities

• Decentralized finance

• Longevity

• Green transformation

Use: Innovation strategy, digital transformation.

7. European Commission’s JRC Megatrends

Focus: Policy foresight for EU governance.

12 megatrends grouped under:

• People

• Planet

• Prosperity

• Peace

• Partnership

Use: Horizon scanning for EU policies.

8. ANTICIPATE

Focus: Strategic foresight, complexity framing

8 megatrends :

• Emerging World Order,

• Urban Transformation,

• Optimizing Health,

• Liquid Lifestyles,

• Blurring Realities,

• Artificial Revolution,

• Collapsing Ecosystems,

• Wealth Polarization

Use: Foresight practitioners, public/private sectors

Comparable table

Framework	Primary Focus	Key Dimensions / Themes	Used By
OECD	Public policy, global governance	Demographics, climate, tech, power shifts, values	Governments, international organizations
WEF (World Economic Forum)	Global risks, business strategy	Climate risk, tech disruption, inequality, geopolitics	Global corporations, multilateral institutions
EY	Corporate foresight, economic shifts	Work, technology, urbanization, aging, environment	Businesses, transformation leaders
PwC ADAPT	Business disruption, strategic planning	Asymmetry, Disruption, Age, Polarization, Trust	Executives, corporate strategists
UNDP / UN	Sustainable development, human security	Planetary boundaries, inequality, urbanization, fragility	UN agencies, national development bodies
Futures Platform / Frost & Sullivan	Innovation, tech foresight	Smart cities, decentralization, longevity, green tech	Innovators, consultants, think tanks
European Commission JRC	EU policy foresight, strategic governance	People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Partnership	EU institutions, policymakers
ANTICIPATE	Strategic foresight, complexity framing	Emerging World Order, Urban Transformation, Optimizing Health, Liquid Lifestyles, Blurring Realities, Artificial Revolution, Collapsing Ecosystems, Wealth Polarization	Foresight practitioners, public/private sectors