At the NIHR Innovation Observatory, our mission has always been clear: to anticipate the innovations that will transform health and care and to make sure those innovations work for everyone. As we prepare for this November’s Futures, Foresight & Horizon Scanning Conference, that mission has never felt more urgent.
Our 2025 conference is shaped by the theme Equity, Ethics and Inclusivity, a call to action to ensure that innovation benefits all, not just the few. Rapid technological change, shifting societal needs, and complex health challenges demand that we embed these principles in foresight, research and innovation from the outset.
At this year’s conference we will explore three key sub-themes, for which we are currently inviting abstracts:
This conference is more than an academic gathering; it is a platform to influence how the UK and global health communities think about and plan for the future. With the newly announced NIHR investment strengthening our position as a global leader in horizon scanning, we are entering a pivotal moment.
Whether you are developing innovative methodologies, researching disruptive trends, or demonstrating how foresight can accelerate the adoption of innovation, we want to hear from you.
Together, we can ensure that the future of health and care is equitable, ethical and inclusive and that the UK remains at the forefront of life sciences innovation.
I warmly encourage you to submit your abstract by midnight on Friday 19th September 2025 and join us in shaping that future.
