Fostering the Diversity of Innovation Activities through e-Participation 
Totti Könnölä1 & Ahti Salo1 

1 Helsinki University of Technology
Systems Analysis Laboratory
P.O. Box 1100, 02015 TKK, Finland
E-mails: totti.konnola@tkk.fi, ahti.salo@tkk.fi
Tel. +358-9-451 3053, fax +358-9-451 3096

Abstract 
Although foresight has often supported common vision-building and generic priority-setting, it also needs to promote the diversity of future options that contribute to sustainability. In this context, we describe a novel foresight method for the Internet-based generation and multi-criteria evaluation of a diversity of innovation ideas and, in addition, report experiences from its use in the Finnish Foresight Forum established by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The method provides a systemic anonymous process that builds on the participation of different stakeholder groups, including developers, researchers, users and students, among others. The process consists of (i) the generation of innovation ideas, (ii) mutual commenting and elaboration, (iii) evaluation with regard to three criteria (i.e., novelty, feasibility and societal relevance), and (iv) multi-criteria portfolio analysis for screening the most promising ideas. In particular, the multi-criteria portfolio analysis – based on robust portfolio modeling – is useful as it explicitly recognizes complementary perspectives in the screening of innovation ideas and can thus foster diversity within innovation activities.

References
Liesiö, J., Mild, P., Salo, A. (2005). Preference Programming for Robust Portfolio Modeling and Project Selection, submitted manuscript, January 2005. 
Salo, A. and T. Gustafsson, "A Group Support System for Foresight Processes", International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy 1/3-4 (2004) 249-269.
Salo, A., Könnölä, T., Hjelt, M. 2004. Responsiveness in Foresight Management: Reflections from the Finnish Food and Drink Industry, International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, Vol. 1., Nos. 1-2, 2004, pp. 70-88

Related Web links
Authors’ home pages: 
	Totti Könnölä: http://www.hut.fi/Units/SAL/Personnel/Homepages/TottiK.html 
	Ahti Salo: http://www.hut.fi/Units/SAL/Personnel/Homepages/AhtiS.html 
Software used in the projects:
Opinions-Online: http://www.opinions.hut.fi
Pro-Optimal: http://www.rpm.hut.fi