European Parliamentary Technology Assessment
Encyclopedia
The European Parliamentary Technology Assessment (EPTA) is a network of technology assessment
(TA) institutions specialising in advising parliamentary bodies in Europe.
and biotechnology
, public health
, environment and energy, ICTs
, and R&D policy. Such work is seen as an aid to the democratic control of scientific and technological innovations, and was pioneered in the 1970s by the Office of Technology Assessment
(OTA) of the US Congress. EPTA aims to advance the establishment of technology assessment
(TA) as an integral part of policy formation in parliamentary decision-making processes in Europe, and to strengthen the links between TA units in Europe.
, under the patronage of the President of the European Parliament
, Mr Enrique Baron Crespo
. The network has a light structure, guided by the EPTA Council and by meetings of the Directors of the EPTA partner organisations. The EPTA Council is the steering committee of the EPTA network, and consists of Members of Parliament or representatives of the advisory boards for the respective EPTA organisation. The Council decides on organisational matters such as co-operation within the network and the status of members and associates. The Presidency of EPTA rotates among full members each year. The tasks of the EPTA member organisation holding the presidency are to coordinate the EPTA network activities and to host the annual EPTA conference, Council meeting and Directors' meeting.
There are currently 14 full members:
There are currently 5 associate members:
On the EPTA homepage an encompassing database lists and summarises all TA projects of the member institutions.
Technology assessment
Technology assessment Technology assessment Technology assessment (TA, German Tenteractive, and communicative process that aims to contribute to the formation of public and political opinion on societal aspects of science and technology.- General description :...
(TA) institutions specialising in advising parliamentary bodies in Europe.
Objectives
The EPTA partners advise parliaments on the possible social, economic and environmental impact of new sciences and technologies. The common aim is to provide impartial and high quality analysis and reports of developments in issues such as for example bioethicsBioethics
Bioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine. Bioethicists are concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, and philosophy....
and biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
, public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
, environment and energy, ICTs
Information and communication technologies
Information and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
, and R&D policy. Such work is seen as an aid to the democratic control of scientific and technological innovations, and was pioneered in the 1970s by the Office of Technology Assessment
Office of Technology Assessment
The Office of Technology Assessment was an office of the United States Congress from 1972 to 1995. OTA's purpose was to provide Congressional members and committees with objective and authoritative analysis of the complex scientific and technical issues of the late 20th century, i.e. technology...
(OTA) of the US Congress. EPTA aims to advance the establishment of technology assessment
Technology assessment
Technology assessment Technology assessment Technology assessment (TA, German Tenteractive, and communicative process that aims to contribute to the formation of public and political opinion on societal aspects of science and technology.- General description :...
(TA) as an integral part of policy formation in parliamentary decision-making processes in Europe, and to strengthen the links between TA units in Europe.
History and Organisation
The EPTA network was formally established in 1990, on a recommendation by the UK’s parliamentary TA office – POSTParliamentary Office of Science and Technology
The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, is the Parliament of the United Kingdom's in-house source of independent, balanced and accessible analysis of public policy issues related to science and technology...
, under the patronage of the President of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, Mr Enrique Baron Crespo
Enrique Barón Crespo
Enrique Barόn Crespo is a Spanish politician and lawyer. He is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and sits with the Party of European Socialists group in the European Parliament....
. The network has a light structure, guided by the EPTA Council and by meetings of the Directors of the EPTA partner organisations. The EPTA Council is the steering committee of the EPTA network, and consists of Members of Parliament or representatives of the advisory boards for the respective EPTA organisation. The Council decides on organisational matters such as co-operation within the network and the status of members and associates. The Presidency of EPTA rotates among full members each year. The tasks of the EPTA member organisation holding the presidency are to coordinate the EPTA network activities and to host the annual EPTA conference, Council meeting and Directors' meeting.
Members
Parliamentary TA is institutionalised in different ways, ranging from permanent parliamentary committees for TA; separate TA units as part of the parliamentary administration; to independent institutions with a mandate to serve as a permanent consulting institution for the parliament. The members of the EPTA network are European organisations, which carry out TA studies on behalf of parliaments. Full membership can be obtained by a unit that operates in Europe, is devoted to TA or related activities, serves a (supra-national, national or regional) parliament, has its own budget and secretariat and has an active work programme including publications on issues with a scientific and technological component. Associate membership can be granted to other TA units that have a TA programme and the resources to realise it, but that do not fulfil other criteria for full membership. Associates are involved in all EPTA activities but are not represented in the EPTA Council. Further, other units interested in the work of EPTA can act as observers.There are currently 14 full members:
- Scientific and Technological Options Assessment (STOAStoaStoa in Ancient Greek architecture; covered walkways or porticos, commonly for public usage. Early stoae were open at the entrance with columns, usually of the Doric order, lining the side of the building; they created a safe, enveloping, protective atmosphere.Later examples were built as two...
), European Parliament - Teknologirådet - Danish Board of Technology (DBT)
- Tulevaisuusvaliokunta - Committee for the Future, Finnish Parliament
- Instituut Samenleving en technologie (IST) - Institute Society and Technology, Flemish Parliament, Belgium
- Office Parlementaire d'Evaluation des Choix Scientifiques et Technologiques (OPECST) - Parliamentary Office for Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Options, Assemblée Nationale and Sénat, France
- Büro für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung beim Deutschen Bundestag (TAB) - Office of Technology Assessment at the German Parliament
- Committee on Technology Assessment, Greek Parliament
- Comitato per la Valutazione delle Scelte Scientifiche e Tecnologiche (VAST) - Committee for Science and Technology Assessment, Italian Parliament
- Rathenau Instituut, Netherlands
- Teknologirådet - Norwegian Board of Technology (NBT)
- Centre for Technology Assessment / Zentrum für Technologiefolgen-Abschätzung (TA-SWISS), SwitzerlandCentre for Technology Assessment TA-SWISSThe Centre for Technology Assessment TA-SWISS is a Centre of Competence of the , based on a mandate in the Swiss federal law on research. It is an advisory body, financed by public money, and devoted to technology assessment...
- Parliamentary Office of Science and TechnologyParliamentary Office of Science and TechnologyThe Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, is the Parliament of the United Kingdom's in-house source of independent, balanced and accessible analysis of public policy issues related to science and technology...
(POST), UK Parliament - Consell Assessor del Parlament sobre Ciència i Tecnologia (CAPCIT) - The Advisory Board of the Parliament of Catalonia for Science and Technology
- Utvärderings- och forskningsfunktionen - The Parliamentary evaluation and research unit, Swedish Parliament
There are currently 5 associate members:
- Sub-Committee on Science and Ethics of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg
- Institute of Technology AssessmentInstitute of Technology AssessmentThe Institute of Technology Assessment is a research unit of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna.The ITA is the only institution in Austria that is fully devoted to technology assessment...
(Institut für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung ITA), Austria - Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid/Politique scientifique fédérale/Föderale Wissenschaftspolitik (BELSPO) - Federal Science Policy Office, Belgium
- Biuro Analiz Sejmowych, Kancelaria Sejmu (BAS) - The Bureau of Research, Polish Parliament
- Government Accountability OfficeGovernment Accountability OfficeThe Government Accountability Office is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress. It is located in the legislative branch of the United States government.-History:...
(GAO), Center for Science, Technology and Engineering (CSTE) of the US Congress
Activities
EPTA organises annual conferences targeted at Members of Parliaments and actively promotes collaboration between members and associates, including common projects occasionally.On the EPTA homepage an encompassing database lists and summarises all TA projects of the member institutions.