Intergenerational Foresight 2026

Across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), innovation and entrepreneurship have become central pillars of national development strategies. Startup formation is accelerating, youth-led ventures are proliferating and governments are investing heavily in innovation ecosystems as engines of growth and diversification. Yet beneath this momentum lies a persistent governance tension. Visibility, access to capital and institutional support remain unevenly distributed, concentrated within established networks rather than aligned with demonstrated contribution.This misalignment carries long-term consequences. When visibility is inherited rather than earned, trust weakens, talent is underutilized and ecosystems struggle to scale inclusively. Over time, innovation systems risk becoming less adaptive, less investable and less credible, both domestically and globally. This provocation reframes visibility as a governance lever. It asks whether anchoring recognition in contribution could strengthen legitimacy, widen participation and improve long- term ecosystem performance.What if visibility in the innovation economy were earned through contributions to society rather than proximity to power, thereby strengthening the region’s investability, stability, and global credibility? Middle East and North Africa B Intergenerational Foresight: An Approach for Long-Term Responsibility in Governance 15