EST-FRAME

Integrated EST Framework

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The aim of the EST-Frame project is to contribute to socially robust and ethically sound research and technology development by providing further methodological development of appropriate tools for social impact assessment and technology evaluation. The project will appraise current assessment methods for evaluating emerging science and technology with the objectives of mapping their strengths and weaknesses and determining their appropriate application domains. It will examine the current policy context for emerging science and technology (EST) policy advice and will identify future trends and needs that should be considered. The project will, in close dialogue with end users, also identify to what extent – and in what contexts –a framework of a more integrated nature can be applied, and it will examine the appropriate position that such an integrated framework can operate in, within a context characterised by internationalisation, market politics, and new forms of public-private partnerships in technology governance. Finally, this work will result in the design of a flexible, integrated framework that is intended to facilitate holistic societal dialogue and reflection and policy advice on emerging science and technologies. This integrated framework can be applied by policy forming actors (economic councils; ethical councils; technology appraisal institutes, government technology assessment boards, etc.) who are involved in the process of conducting analyses and coordinating policy deliberations on the broad range of science and technological developments. The project will use four examples of emerging science and technologies – (1) nanotechnology in food production, (2) synthetic biology, (3) biofuels and (4) security in emerging ICTs – to determine how current frameworks are applied to assess social impacts and then evaluate these assessments in light of the integrated framework. An added value of the project is policy relevant advice on the four cases.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Research and technology development is proceeding at a rapid pace. An integrated assessment framework is to ensure that governance is responsive to public concerns.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Policymakers and the public must often rely on expert scientific opinions regarding the risks and potential consequences of novel and complex innovations. An important pillar of EU policy is to ensure that technology governance is in line with societal needs, but individual frameworks may not adequately represent and assess important social issues.

The EU-funded http://estframe.net/ (EST-FRAME) (Integrated EST framework) project was launched to address the European Commission's call for a more integrated approach to assessment and governance of emerging science and technology (EST). Scientists developed such a policy framework through analysis of four EST case studies and discussions with more than 122 professionals, including assessment practitioners, technology advisors, policymakers, private decision makers and non-governmental organisations. The case studies cover nanotechnologies, synthetic biology, biofuels and cloud computing.

Researchers developed an analytical protocol that was used to evaluate both a broad spectrum of assessments in each case and the most important technology advisory practices across cases. The data provided unique insight into regional and EU assessment methodologies and also highlighted overlaps between technology advisory domains as well as gaps that need to be filled. Studies of the effects of contextual trends that affect technology appraisal and governance policy were completely new. EST-FRAME developed a trends analysis framework that will be useful to future projects as well.

The integrated EST framework for assessment, the http://transtepapproach.wordpress.com/ (TranSTEP approach) was finalised by the end of the project. It fills the important need for a holistic combination of partial assessments. This should facilitate the multidimensional policy support necessary for responsible, transparent and publicly acceptable EST governance. The framework is currently applied and further developed in several projects.

EST-FRAME has been widely presented at conferences, workshops and through scientific publications as well as on its website and through a flyer handed out to contacts. The comprehensive assessment framework is expected to lead to EST development in line with societal objectives.