21.10.2021

What can Europe learn from the pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we look at science. In many European countries, scientific expertise suddenly moved into the spotlight. Expectations for scientific progress are higher than ever. A new report by international experts asks what politicians, citizens and decision-makers can learn from the discussions surrounding Covid-19.

The pandemic is not over yet, as the latest global figures show. Will technologies like the green passport bring us the freedom we need? How much do different countries trust in science and technology? European technology assessment institutions have sought answers to all these questions in a report, which was presented at the conference "The COVID-19 pandemic - Drawing lessons to strengthen societies" on November 9.

The report was written by experts from the EPTA network, of which the Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences is a member. At the conference, hosted by the Dutch Rathenau Institute, the authors discussed these questions with parliamentarians and political decision-makers. The report is now available online.