A quintuple helix model for foresight: Analyzing the developments of digital technologies in order to outline possible future scenarios

The challenge of contemporary society is that of planning possible paths for the future. In the current scenario of hyperconnection, men and technologies and human and artificial intelligence are intertwined in such complex ways as to generate multiple possible futures up to the limit of the capacity of imagination. In particular, it is precisely the frontier of digital and technological changes that obliges social actors and socio-economic institutions to know how to intercept the dynamism of the transformations taking place, supporting the ability to imagine a desirable future, which goes in the intelligent direction of sustainability, of wellbeing and the ethical responsibility of one's actions. In this perspective, the reflection on the so-called future studies is inserted, which becomes a necessity, especially in times of change: If the rhythm of change increases, we need to look further, but future studies are also a philosophy of thought because the future is already part of our present life in the form of anticipation of the future; and this is all the more true as social changes are improvised and systemic complexity increasingly turbulent. Based on these statements, this study aims to analyze how the triple helix model—or rather the quintuple helix model—can be a reference paradigm for social and technological forecasting in a systemic attempt to look at the future of science, digital technology, society, economy, and their interactions, in order to promote social, economic and environmental benefits. From the social perspective, the model could provide guidance to improve the anticipatory profile of organizations and communities, helping to understand—in a short time—what the present actions will be: Predict, discover, and anticipate united in active participation, communication, knowledge, and action become so essential in the processes of production, as in the past it was the accumulation of capital, and also the ethical sensitivity begins to play an increasingly critical role.