Institutional Projects

Technology Assessment in the NanoNed Program

Coordinated by the University of Twente’s Centre for Studies of Science, Technology and Society(size: eight PhD student positions (four-year employment), postdocs adding up to about seven years)
 

NanoNed is a consortium of Dutch research institutes working in nanoscience and nanotechnology (see Appendix 1 for an overview). It has obtained funding from two general R&D funding programmes (at the moment, there is no dedicated government funding of nanoscience and nanotechnology). On the initiative of the consortium leadership, a Technology Asessment (TA) component was included in the bids for funding. Arie Rip (University of Twente) was invited to lead the TA program. This paper indicates the thrust of the TA program, as it is now being implemented.

The original proposal of February 2003 (Appendix 2) focused on methodology, in particular Constructive Technology Assessment, and applications to domains of nanotechnology visible in within NanoNed. With first-round funding from Nano-Impulse, two PhD students have started working on Constructive TA of nanotechnology: (1) Expectations, agenda-building and CTA exercises using sociotechnical scenarios [Rutger van Merkerk, UU]. The theoretical question of “emerging irreversibilities” is combined with methodology development and actual CTA exercises. (2) Emerging alliances and networks between various actors [Douglas Robinson, UT]. The theoretical question of “emerging irreversibilities” is developed for the analysis of so-called nano-districts in Europe, and for sociotechnical scenarios to be used in CTA exercises.There are other ongoing projects on nanotechnology with a policy and management focus, which overlap with the Constructive TA approach, for example: (3) Intermediary actors and activities in science & technology policy, in the case of nano-technology [Frank van der Most and Barend van der Meulen, UT, partly funded through the Innovation & Governance research programme of the University of Twente], (4) Governance of nanoscience and technology research centres and networks [Arie Rip, UT, and Philippe Larédo, Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées, partly funded through EU Networks of Excellence] and the emergence of “nanodistricts” [project coordinated by Vincent Mangematin, Grenoble].

While keeping the focus on Constructive Technology Assessment (CTA), in the second phase the proposal is deepened and broadened. This has become all the more important because of the sharp rise in interest in TA of nanotechnology over the last year. Coordination with what is done elsewhere is now also necessary, and this requires special effort. The order of magnitude of the budget is 1 million € over five years. The program is distributed over a number of Dutch universities. It is coordinated by Arie Rip (University of Twente), who also takes part in the meetings of the Flagship Captains of NanoNed. The two current PhD positions funded under the NanoImpulse Program will be integrated in the TA NanoNed program.

Some projects have been defined in a preliminary way, also based on the interests of the participating groups in Twente, Utrecht, Delft and Groningen.

[5] Processes of path emergence and path obsolescence, and strategic choices in micro- and nano-electronics, linked to broadening of foresight and roadmapping tools

[6] Analysis of practices and promises at the micro-, meso- and macro-level (the lab, programs and the mobilisation of funds and other resources, overall promises and priority setting) and their alignment – including the gap between promises for external consumption and what is actually achieved in the lab and taken up in products. Cf. also hype-disappointment cycle.

[7] Nanotechnology and sustainability: the difficult interaction between societal goals, promises of new scientific and technological options, and ongoing practices, and the possible role of approaches and tools like anticipatory life cycle analysis.

[8] The distance between ethical (and more generally, normative) aspects and ongoing work, studied for cases in bionanotechnology. Implications for governance arrangements.[9] Mapping ongoing articulation of images and views of nanotechnology across a variety of actors, and the role of utopias and nightmare scenarios in shaping views and attitudes.

In addition to the themes set out here, which can be taken up in PhD or other projects, a number of smaller activities are envisaged which are an integral part of the TA Program in NanoNed. First and foremost, the possibility for nanotechnologists themselves to spend some time doing a TA study, supported by the TA Program (intellectually, sometimes also financially). Second, there are cross-cutting and synthetic themes which can be taken up in workshops and the writing of essays, within NanoNed or more broadly. Third, there will be activities for and/or supported by EU Networks of Excellence and other international collaborative ventures.

The TA Program takes up issues of general strategic discussion and public engagement and public debate, but does not position them as central to the Program. Other bodies are active there and collaboration is envisaged. This is particularly the case for the Dutch Rathenau Institute, with which the TA Program coordinates and occasionally collaborates. Expertise of SMO (Stichting Maatschappij en Onderneming) and other bodies including STB-TNO may be taken up in joint ventures. There are also strong links with EU Networks of Excellence in nanotechnology (Nano2Life, Frontiers) and in science, technology and innovation policy (PRIME: Policies for Research and Innovation in the Move towards the European Research Area, coordinated by Philippe Larédo).