Title: Technology Assessment: a concept for Europe?

Authors: N. Kastrinos

Addresses: Programme of Policy Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (PREST), The University, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

Abstract: European technology assessment has been gaining ground continuously since the 1970s. However, the European technology assessment scene remains diverse and fragmented. This paper attempts to show some aspects of the variety of ideas, approaches and functions that characterize the European technology assessment scene, namely those that can be traced to national technology assessment systems. It is argued that technology assessment systems incorporate the links between science, technology and policy, as well as an intermediation by technology assessment researchers and practitioners. Differences between national technology assessment systems in 6 European countries (France, Germany, the UK, The Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark), are demonstrated through a survey of technology assessment expertise. Drawing on the pictures of the 6 national systems, the paper comments on European technology assessment and the issues with which it is faced.

Keywords: technology assessment; Europe; technology policy; technology management; France; Germany; UK; United Kingdom; The Netherlands; Belgium; Denmark.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025449

International Journal of Technology Management, 1996 Vol.11 No.5/6, pp.523 - 538

Published online: 22 May 2009 *

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