This paper presents a future-oriented technology analysis (FTA) project on the control and management of emerging infectious diseases (EID) in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation region. It combines several FTA methods. Technologies that are potentially effective in biosecurity and in combating EID were first identified by bibliometric analysis, online survey and scenario planning. Roadmaps of these technologies were then built. Workshops to conduct the foresight process were held in the region. Four scenarios and six technology roadmaps for the region were developed. The results show that many future technologies will converge to become most effective in dealing with biosecurity and EID. This paper deals with cross-disciplinary technologies in the context of a cross-boundary regional setting, which has important methodological implications.

This paper presents the key findings from the collaborative study among APEC members to address the possibilities on the future development of emerging infectious diseases and the opportunities/challenges that technologies can be effectively exploited to deal with diseases. The scenario planning technique has been applied in the study and integrated with bibliometric analysis and technology roadmapping. As a result, experts highlighted the future development of key technological domains in the areas of modeling, tracking and vaccine development.