The TECHSIGHT Foresight Engine
A Systematic Framework for Deep Tech Innovation in Higher Education
Ertugrul Bayraktar, Onurcan Sahin
Yıldız Technical University (YTU)
Abstract
The transition to a Deep Tech economynecessitates a shift from forecasting to Strategic Foresightwithin European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This paper introduces the TECHSIGHT Foresight Engine, a methodological framework designed to institutionalize this capability and overcome the "Lagging Indicator" trap. The framework is rigorously aligned with the Knowledge Triangle(Education, Research, and Innovation), ensuring every signal is evaluated holistically.
Keywords
Strategic Foresight, Deep Tech Innovation, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Knowledge Triangle, Horizon Scanning, ICEL Model, TOPSIS, Agentic AI, STEEP Framework
TECHSIGHT Empowering Students Through Innovation, Leadership, and Global Collaboration
Ss.Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM)
Abstract
The TECHSIGHT project's commitment to fostering the next generation of innovative leaders
extends far beyond traditional classroom instruction. Throughout 2025, the project has organized and supported a comprehensive series of student-centered activities at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM), designed to empower young engineers and entrepreneurs with practical skills, international exposure, and hands-on experience in deep technology development. These initiatives demonstrate TECHSIGHT's belief that students are not merely passive recipients of knowledge but active creators of the innovations that will shape our future.
Keywords
Strategic Foresight, Deep Tech Innovation, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
Strengthening TECHSIGHT's Visibility and Impact Across the Communityramework for Deep Tech Innovation in Higher Education
Ss.Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM).
Abstract
The TECHSIGHT project has been committed to fostering innovation, collaboration, and
digital transformation within the technological, academic, and business communities in North
Macedonia. Throughout 2025, the project team participated in a series of highly visible public
events that significantly raised awareness of TECHSIGHT's mission and impact organized by Ss.Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM). These strategic activities demonstrated
how cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, deep technologies, and sustainable
engineering can bridge the gap between academia, industry, and entrepreneurship.
Keywords
Strategic Foresight, Deep Tech Innovation, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Horizon Scanning
Shaping the Future of Deep Tech Careers through the TECHSIGHT Project
Daugavpils University (DU)
Daugavpils University (DU) is proud to be at the forefront of the TECHSIGHT project – a European initiative dedicated to building future-ready skills in deep tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation. As one of the partners in this international collaboration, DU brings its regional strength, educational expertise, and student-focused mindset to transform how universities support career development in rapidly evolving technology fields.
What Is TECHSIGHT?
TECHSIGHT is part of the EIT Higher Education Initiative, which aims to strengthen universities as engines of innovation. The project brings together academic institutions, companies, and innovation hubs across Europe and beyond to co-create educational content, mentorship programmes, and strategic partnerships in the deep tech space.
DU Role: Innovation with Impact
As a leading regional university in Latvia, DU is driving several key components of the TECHSIGHT project, focusing on three core priorities:
Developing Practical, Inclusive Learning Materials (WP3)
DU leads the creation of multilingual, accessible learning materials for deep tech entrepreneurship. These resources will be available on the project's EduSPHERE platform and include topics such as:
By combining academic expertise with real-world needs, DU ensures students gain practical tools to succeed in the deep tech economy.
Personalised Career Development and Mentoring (WP5)
DU coordinates the design of individual career development plans tailored to the needs of students pursuing careers in tech and innovation.
This includes:
This work helps students not only imagine their future careers, but also actively build them, step by step.
Supporting Regional Innovation and Strategic Dialogue (WP6).
DU supports TECHSIGHT's broader impact by engaging with:
This ensures that the project's outcomes are relevant, sustainable, and grounded in the region's real needs.
Why It Matters
Today's students will lead tomorrow's breakthroughs. By equipping them with the right skills, mentorship, and learning tools, DU is helping shape a more thoughtful, more inclusive, and innovation-driven Europe – starting right here in Latgale.
Stay connected with TECHSIGHT and discover how DU is empowering the next generation of tech talent.
Bridging the Gap: Human-Centered AI Systems for Empowerment in Education and Aging
Vladimir Trajkovik,
Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia
Abstract
In the face of accelerating digital transformation using artificail Intelligence (AI), the challenge remains to design AI systems that are not only intelligent but human-centered; technologies that empower rather than exclude, support rather than surveil. This paper explores how socio-technical principles, coupled with Future Thinking, Lean Thinking, and Systems Thinking, can guide the development of responsible and inclusive AI solutions across diverse life stages. For that purpose, two case studies are presented in this paper: an AI-powered educational game that fosters cyberbullying resilience among youth, and an AI ambient monitoring system that supports autonomy and well-being in elderly populations. Despite their obvious differences, both systems demonstrate common design commitments: participatory development, ethical contextualization, and adaptive, ecosystem-aware implementation. By integrating co-creation with foresight, agility, and systemic alignment, the paper proposes a replicable model for AI-driven social innovation, one that bridges the gap between technological possibility and societal necessity.
Keywords
Human-Centered AI, Socio-Technical Systems, Future Thinking, Lean Thinking, Systems Thinking
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