Abstract in English:
Understanding trends in science and technology and interpreting state-of-the-art research results in view of their potential to influence future space activities is an input to long-term strategies. This paper presents some mechanisms adopted by a corporate research think-tank, the Advanced Concepts Team of ESA. These include the analysis of research results of the team and its academic network, the analysis of science and technology forecast reports and interpretation of expectations of the science community as expressed during advanced concepts workshops.
