The Challenge

The Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) needed a robust horizon scanning solution to monitor trends across multiple domains, from macro trends to specific sectoral developments like food systems and wood technologies. Their key challenges included:

  1. Managing an extremely broad scope – Trends spanned economic, environmental, political, and technological factors across Scandinavia, Europe, and globally (Americas, Asia, Africa).
  2. Handling vast data volumes – Traditional media monitoring was unfeasible due to the sheer number of news articles and reports relevant to their scope.
  3. Tracking key stakeholders – From UN organizations to central banks and research institutes, RISE needed to monitor a diverse set of actors.
  4. Structuring insights for decision-making – The team needed to identify and quantify emerging trends, ensuring insights were actionable and strategically useful.

The Solution

RISE implemented Dcipher Analytics’ AI-powered research agents to automate the collection, structuring, and analysis of horizon-scanning data:

  • Automated global research – Thousands of research tasks were executed across multiple languages and countries to collect relevant news, reports, and stakeholder updates.
  • PESTEL framework analysis – RISE structured macro trend scanning into 110 sub-areas, covering everything from values and lifestyles to regulatory changes.
  • Trend radar functionality – Using Dcipher Analytics Insight Booster, RISE visualized trends in an interactive trend radar, categorizing them by:
    • Volume of reporting
    • Momentum and growth
    • Impact on Swedish industry and society
    • Trend maturity (emerging to mature)
  • Customized radars for different teams – Multiple trend radars were created, including:
    • A macro trend radar
    • A wood tech radar
    • A food systems radar
  • AI-generated monthly reports – Summarized insights ensured RISE teams remained updated on key developments and emerging phenomena.

The Results

  • Automated trend identification across macro and industry-specific levels.
  • Structured insights that were quantified and visualized in interactive dashboards.
  • Significant time savings compared to traditional horizon-scanning platforms, which required more manual research and analysis.
  • Strategic decision-making support, with insights used directly in RISE’s strategic processes.

The Impact

By using Dcipher Analytics, RISE transformed its horizon scanning process, enabling a data-driven, AI-first approach to trend monitoring and strategic planning.

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