The RIF project aims to a) systematize knowledge on emerging patterns, trends and drivers of change in ways of doing and organising research in our knowledge societies, b) provide an outlook on future pathways for STI systems and practices by way of scenarios, c) assess and identify key issues of the scenarios against the background of the emerging European Research Area, and) to establish a dialogue on future perspectives for STI in order to identify strategic options and opportunities for action.RIF focuses on the dynamics of change resulting from the interplay of developments inside and outside of STI systems. It is based on the assumption that current trends will give rise to certain tensions and dilemmas which may be resolved within the constraints of current institutional settings, or else through substantial transformation of STI systems and practices.The project will set out from a comprehensive stocktaking of European and international forward-looking activities, and an analysis of academic literature on emerging new modes of doing and organising research. This serves as the basis for a two-stage interactive scenario process. At first explorative scenarios with a time horizon of 2020 will be developed based on exploration of current trends and drivers within the constraints of today’s STI framework. These scenarios will point towards key critical junctures in ways of doing and organising research. The second phase will generate long-term transformative scenarios towards 2030 that may incorporate significant structural and institutional changes in STI systems and practices. In a series of tailored interactive workshops the scenarios’ implications for key policy objectives will be assessed and strategic options for different actors and stakeholders explored. RIF will rely on extensive stakeholder interaction, using both face-to-face formats and Web 2.0 tools. A range of dissemination activities ensures a widespread debate of RIF findings by stakeholders.