Mission Statement

To provide leading-edge intelligence about the emerging trends, innovations and forecasts that will impact consumers, business and society in the future. To better prepare leaders to direct change and shape the future.

IGF Services

1. Keynote Presentations
2. Mapping the Future Seminars
3. Business Strategy Consulting
4. New Venture Analysis
5. Strategic Reports
6. Futures Research

Advisory Board

The IGF Advisory Board is comprised of internationally recognized business leaders who provide advice on client engagements as needed.

• Peter Blatman
• Rudy Burger Ph.D.
• Charles Ostman
• Toby Redshaw
• David Rosen
• Sandy Rosenberg Ph.D.
• Deryk Van Brunt Dr. P.H.
• Bill Moulton

Clients

• ABB Business Processes
• Accenture
• AC Nielsen
• Advanstar
• Affiliated Computer Services
• Alaska Credit Union League
• Alcatel
• Allergan
• Allstate
• Alpha Graphics
• American Automobile Association
• American Consulting Engineers Council
• American Express
• American Gem Society
• American Hotel and Motel Association
• American Mortgage Association 
• American Society of Corporate Secretaries
• American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists
• American Water Works Association
• Andersen Consulting
• Anthem Health Care
• Anthony Robbins Corporation
• Arma International
• Arthur Andersen
• Astra Zeneca
• Assisted Living Federation of America
• Association for Manufacturing Technologies
• Assurant Group
• The Association for Work Process Improvement
• Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers
• AT&T
• Automatic Data Processing
• Avaya
• AVNET
• Avondale Federal Savings

• Banc One Corporation - Finance One

• Bank of Montreal
• Bank Securities Journal
• Barclays Bank
• Battery Council International
• Beauty and Barber
• Bell Atlantic
• Bell South
• Benjamin Moore & Company
• Blue Cross Blue Shield
• British Telecom
• Building Owners & Managers Association
• Business Journal
• Cable & Telecommunications Association of Marketing
• California Credit Union League
• California Motor Car Dealers Association
• Call Centers Summit
• CalPERS
• Cardinal Health
• Catholic Healthcare Partners
• Cooperative of American Physicians
• Casi-Rusco Electronics
• Casualty Actuarial Society
• Central Association of College and University
• Centre for Leadership
• Centura Health Care
• Century 21
• CEO Magazine
• CFO Publications
• Charter Communication Management
• CIGNA
• Cincinnati Bell Information Systems
• CIO Forum
• Citibank
• City of Grand Prairie
• Coldwell Banker
• Communique
• Community First Banks Shares
• Compaq Computer Corporation
• Computer Associates
• Computer Sciences Corporation
• Computron
• Consortium Health Plans
• Construction Industry Institute
• Consumer Bankers Association
• Control Data Systems
• Convergys
• Cox Radio
• Create Foundation
• Credit Bureau Executive Society
• Credit Union Executives Association
• Credit Union National Association
• Critical Path
• Cybertek Corporation
• Dallas Systems Corporation
• Datalynx
• Datatel, Inc.
• Decision Processes International
• Delphi Packard Electric Systems
• Department of Labor, DC
• Diebold, Incorporated
• Direct Marketing Association
• Disney
• Do It Best Corp
• Drug Information Association
• Duke Energy
• Eclipsys
• Edward Jones
• Electric Boat Association

• Electronic Messaging Association

• Employee Relocation Council
• Envelope Manufactures Association
• Equipment Leasing Association
• Ernst & Young
• Excalibur Technologies

• Experian

• Express Scripts

• Farm Credit Council Services

• Federal Express

• First Data Corporation
• Footwear Distributors and Retailers
• Foundation for the Junior Blind
• Framatone ANP
• Freescale Semiconductor
• Funai
• Fujitsu
• Gale Group Software
• Gartner
• Genentech
• General Electric
• General Motors
• GERS Retail
• GIGA Information
• Great American Insurance Company
• Greater Kansas City Civic Council
• Group One Software
• GTE
• GTE-TSI
• Hannaford Foods
• Harley Davidson
• Harte Hanks 
• The Hartford
• HD Vest
• Health Care Financial Management Association
• Health Industry Group Purchasing Association
• Hewlett Packard
• HIMSS
• Hitachi
• Home Theatre Specialists Association
• Honeywell Inc.
• Hospital Shared Services
• Hughes Network Systems
• IBM
• Illinois Association of HMOs
• Imark Communications
• Impact User Group
• Inc. Magazine
• Infinium Software
• Influent Technology Group
• Information Technology Resellers Association
• Innova Health System
• Institute for Professionals in Taxation
• Institute for Real Estate Management
• Insurance Accounting Systems
• Insurance Services Office
• Intel
• Internal Revenue Service
• International Association for Education Management
• International Association of Human Resources Mgmt.
• International Association of Plastics
• International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses
• International Council of Shopping Centers
• International Development Research Council
• International Health and Racquet Sports Association
• International Teleproduction Society
• Intrado
• Investment Management Consultants Association
• ITT
• Jefferson Financial
• Johnson and Johnson
• Johnson Controls
• JP Morgan
• Kemper Funds
• Kensington Technology Group

• Ketchum Public Relations

• Kopp Investment Advisors
• Kraft Foods
• Lanier
• Law Net
• Lebhar-Friedman
• Leprino Foods
• Leeward Community College

• Lexmark

• Licensing Executives Society
• LIMRA

• Lockheed Martin

• LOMA

• Lucent Technologies

• Marcus Evans
• Massachusetts Bankers Association
• MasterCard
• MasterCard International
• Material Handling Industries of America
• M&I Data
• McDonalds
• MCI
• McKinsey
• Medical Group Management Association
• Medquist
• Mellon Trust94 
• Memorial Health
• Meridian Health

• Merrill Lynch

• MetLife
• Metrolina Entrepreneurial Council
• MFS Investments
• Michelin
• Microsoft
• Midland Financial
• Midstates
• Minnesota Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Minnesota Telecom Association
• Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
• Mortgage Bankers Association
• Motive Communications
• Mutual Service Corporation
• Nashville Chamber of Commerce
• National Agri-Marketing Association
• National Air Transportation Association
• National Association of Aluminum Distributors
• National Association of College Stores
• National Association of Convenience Stores
• National Association of Federal Credit Unions
• National Association of Independent Insurers
• National Association of Industrial Office Properties
• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
• National Association of Professional Employers Org.

• National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts

• National Association of Tower Erectors
• National Automated Clearinghouse Association
• National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
• National Council for Prescription Drug Programs
• National Energy Services Association
• National Research Corporation
• National Semiconductor
• National Services Industry
• National Ski Areas Association

• National Spa & Pool Institute

• NCR

• Network of City Business Journals
• New York State Telecommunication Association
• Nortel Networks
• Nuance Communications
• Nuveen Investments
• Nynex
• Oak Investment Partners
• Oberthur Card Systems
• Oral B
• Ottawa Governmental IT Group
• Owens Corning

• Pacific Bell

• Pegasystems Inc.
• People Click
• Philips
• Picker Interational
• PPG Industries
• Price Waterhouse Coopers
• Professional Data Solutions
• Property Loss Research Bureau

• Prudential

• QAD Software

• Qualcomm
• Radiant Systems
• Radio Inc.
• Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
• Raytheon
• Restaurant Finance Corporation
• Resurrection Healthcare
• Retail Bankers Association
• Salomon Smith Barney
• San Francisco Securities Traders Association
• SAP
• SBC
• Securities Industry Association
• Serena Software
• Sharp
• Showtime Networks
• Singapore Institute of Management
• Skillsoft
• Snack Food Association
• Social Security Administration
• Society for Information Management
• Software AG
• Solucient
• Sony
• Southwestern Bell Telecom
• Sprint Corporation
• State Street Financial
• Steel Services Center Institute
• St. Paul Company
• Stratus Technologies
• Student Loan Finance Corporation
• Sum Total Systems
• Sun Financial
• Sungard
• Taiwan Institute for Economic Reform
• Telecheck
• Teradata
• Thomson Financial
• Travel Michigan
• Treasury Management Association of Canada
• Truck Renting and Leasing Association
• TYCO International
• United Association of Equipment Leasing
• United States Chamber of Commerce
• UPS

• U.S. Bank

• US West Communications
• Virginia Manufacturers Association
• Visa
• Vodafone
• Voluntary Hospitals of America
• Washington Mutual
• Wescorp
• Wolters Kluwer
• Xerox
• Xilinx
• XL Capital

Client Services

The Institute For Global Futures offers strategy consulting, new venture analysis, research, media programs, keynote presentations, conferences and strategic alliance building for a broad range of global Fortune 1000 clients. Client engagements are on a project or retainer basis.

The Institute provides strategic analysis and business intelligence about the impact of future trends and innovations for a worldwide client base.

IGF has worked with over 100 clients in numerous industries worldwide, including financial services, health care, entertainment, media, hospitality, manufacturing, knowledge, biotech, logistics, electronics and transportation.

The Top Ten Extreme Technology Trends for 2008

As you know, each year the Institute for Global Futures identifies and forecasts what the coming year's most impactful technology trends will be. This year we will see an explosion of innovations in advanced technology that will create both disruptions and opportunities as never before. These Top Ten Extreme Tech Trends will offer wealth-creating competitive advantages for the agile company or individual that is quick to adapt.

Advances in quantum computing, geo-engineering, green tech, nano-medical devices, wireless Internet, stem cell organs, and personal robots top the list. We see cheap, fast, connected, green and smart technology invading every industry from real estate, to retail, to financial services. Vast new power tools will accelerate global innovation creating entirely new industries in 2008. As a result, every business and every customer will be influenced by these trends.

The coming year's top technology trends are as follows:

Read more: The Top Ten Extreme Technology Trends for 2008

The Top Ten Transition Strategies President-Elect Obama Must Embrace Now

1. Revitalizing the Economy must be the highest priority. This should include business incentives, tax breaks, direct investments in fundamental ways, but not to stifle the growth engines of: Innovation, science, small business and global trade.

2. Fixing unemployment means job creation. A massive public/private sector infrastructure program that provides work, training, education and investment will electrify the economy in positive ways.

3. Banks are not lending and they must be encouraged to or Game Over. Liquidity is the driver of business. Growth is being restricted. Jobs are being lost. This must change. Every bank that has received funds must lend, should be the mandate. M&A's are not a productive, sole use of public funds.

4. Small business grants should be increased by 1000% to stimulate the economy.

5. Tax incentives for business to stimulate job creation must be a top priority. Make it cost-effective to hire people in this economy.

6. Research and Development grants for alternative energy, clean tech, advanced computing, next generation Internet, biotech, nanotech and all next generation technologies are essential to job creation and a strong economy.

7. Government Student Loan programs must be outsourced to include private sector lending companies who know how to make for an efficient marketplace for students.

8. Re-Thinking Education. There is much about the education system from secondary to college that needs an overhaul. Educating for tomorrow's high tech jobs, teaching about diverse cultures, entrepreneurship, understanding globalization and trade, and bringing down education costs is a good beginning.

9. Transforming Health Care should include, before we give it away for free, completely changing how we think about the health care model--from disease care to prevention. This will change how we deliver care. Eliminating the waste, using IT to make health care efficient and preparing for the Post-Genomic and personalized health care era is good start.

10. A Comprehensive Economic Sustainability Plan is needed to better plan and understand the risks, challenges and trends affecting the global economy. From security to energy, to climate change to trade, the US needs a plan that embraces the new future.

We Are Evolving!

The Global Futures Forecast is evolving into a blog called The Global Futurist.

Though we were the first online future trends newsletter, we are now entering our third evolution, the blogosphere.

You may still receive this via e-mail. To sign-up go to www.globalfuturist.com

More folks will be able to find us and interact. Same content, same editor. Welcome to the Future.

Dr. James Canton