Hyundai Motor Group and the University of Oxford held an opening ceremony for the Oxford-Hyundai Motor Group Foresight Centre at Oxford’s historic Convocation House on July 8 to mark a new partnership between the two organizations.
Based at Saïd Business School, the Foresight Centre will support exploring the Group’s long-term vision and strategic direction. It will strengthen the Group’s ability to proactively shape the future and identify critical focus points to address future geopolitical shifts and risks in advance. The Centre will conduct innovative research to advance progress for humanity and facilitate interdisciplinary conversations between government agencies, academia and industry experts to develop long-term insights into future societal trends.
The University of Oxford, renowned for its Oxford Scenario Planning Approach (OSPA), has strong expertise in reshaping industry perspectives and conceiving long-term corporate directions.
“This is an exciting and important partnership with the Hyundai Motor Group, that will see our world leading research and academics shape the future of business through values-based research. Hyundai Motor Group’s vision to pursue a better future for humanity very much aligns with our School’s values, and we look forward to a fruitful and mutually enriching collaboration,” said Professor Soumitra Dutta, Dean of Saïd Business School, at the opening ceremony.
Attendees from Hyundai Motor Group included Gyun Kim, Executive Vice President of HMG Business Intelligence Institute, and Heung-Soo Kim, Executive Vice President of Global Strategy Office. From the University of Oxford, attendees included Professor Soumitra Dutta, Dean of Saïd Business School, Professor Jonathan Reynolds, Deputy Dean of Saïd Business School, Professor Rafael Ramirez, Director of the Oxford Scenarios Programme, Professor Trudi Lang, Senior Fellow in Management Practice, and other school officials.
“The automotive industry is undergoing a paradigm shift and significant changes in business environments, leading to unprecedented uncertainty,” said Gyun Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor Group Business Intelligence Institute, speaking at the event. “In such times, it is crucial for companies to move away from an experience-based approach and adopt a long-term perspective to identify large-scale future trends. We expect that the Foresight Centre will play a significant role in cultivating a multifaceted and comprehensive perspective on the future within organizations.”
Heung-Soo Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Strategy Office at Hyundai Motor Group also added, “Hyundai Motor Group is committed to proactively shaping an ideal direction for future communities to build a better world for humanity. We will foster unique capabilities to lead the way as a first mover in the global market, embarking on this ambitious journey not only for the next generation but also those to come.”
Specialized programs, such as the Oxford Scenarios Programme and Oxford Futures Forum, will be implemented to share these insights across the Group, ensuring strategic alignment and forward-thinking leadership.
Furthermore, the Foresight Centre will engage with the Group’s open innovation network across key locations, including the United States, China, India, Germany, and Singapore. This collaboration will contribute to the expansion of the Group’s ecosystems in realizing its envisioned future.
The Foresight Centre will be directed by Professor Rafael Ramirez, widely respected for his expertise in future scenario planning, and co-directed by Titular Associate Professor Trudi Lang, who also brings extensive knowledge and experience in strategic foresight.
Ramirez previously chaired the Global Agenda Council at the World Economic Forum and provided strategic future scenario planning counsel to industry leaders, such as Royal Dutch Shell. Trudi Lang has also held strategic foresight positions at prominent global organizations, such as the World Economic Forum and the OECD Secretariat.
Through this collaboration with the University of Oxford, the Group will establish a foundation for actively designing and realizing its future goals, navigating a transformative global landscape of technological innovation. This partnership is expected to solidify the Group’s leadership in the future mobility industry, going beyond short-term predictions to proactively shape the future.
