Technology Assessment (TA) looks at how new technologies affect society, the environment, and the economy. On March 21, researchers from 11 Central and Eastern European countries will present their current TA activities in an online conference organised by the Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
Researchers from all backgrounds find themselves united by the same goal: to ensure that new technological developments take social and environmental aspects, i.e. waste management or privacy, into account. „We want to be a strong voice for a human and fair approach to research and innovation“, says Michael Nentwich, head of ITA. „We truly believe that science and research are the building blocks to help governments make better decisions when it comes to critical social issues such as Artificial Intelligence or sustainable energy.”
„After years of efforts, we can now finally say that Technology Assessment is well established and institutionalised in Western Europe“, Nentwich continues. The newly founded globalTA initiative even includes researchers from South America and Asia. „The goal of the conference is to gain insight into activities in Eastern and Central Europe. We aim to expand the network of interested academics and other actors to promote TA and learn from each other.”