IQIB brings new perspectives on the future of technology assessment to the ETAC6 conference
IQIB provided key inputs with scientific contributions.
Alexander Plé, scientific advisor at IQIB, at ETAC6 in Vienna.
IQIB
IQIB provided key inputs with scientific contributions.
Alexander Plé, scientific advisor at IQIB, at ETAC6 in Vienna.
IQIB
The scientific discipline of technology assessment (TA) faces the challenging task of developing solutions to global challenges such as digitalization, climate change, and technological governance in times of profound geopolitical change. With three scientific presentations at the 6th European Technology Assessment Conference (ETAC6) in Vienna, we showed how the field can be further developed. The conference addressed experts worldwide for the first time and was thus also the 1st Global TA conference.
Alexander Plé, scientific advisor at IQIB, and Narges Naraghi, researcher at the Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS), showed in their presentation “Global TA in Times of Global Power Transitions: A Critical Perspective” how TA can best position itself as a global discipline in the context of geopolitical and geoeconomic power shifts. This is based on an analysis of structural transformations at the global, national, and societal levels from the perspective of international relations.
IQIB
The basic principles of “rational TA” can also serve as a basis for social and political consulting work outside the EU, emphasized Dr. Bert Droste-Franke, Head of “System Analysis & Societal Future Viability”
„The goal is to develop solutions that are particularly sustainable and socially appropriate, as well as nationally and internationally implementable.“
Dr. Droste-Franke
The basis for this is “rationality” as a concept of reflection. New methods of advanced rational technology assessment then represent good approaches that can be used globally. One of the principles of good practice for developing such rational solutions is that practical knowledge should also be included in the process. Evaluative statements should be made as transparent as possible. This would then allow for the derivation of generally verifiable if-then advice that should be followed if the prerequisites are shared, explains Dr. Droste-Franke:
With “Towards a Less Complex TA – Modularised Agent-Based Models”, Dr. Davy Van Doren, research associate at IQIB, presented an innovative methodological approach to agent-based modelling: by breaking down complex systems into modules, technological impacts can be analysed in a more focussed manner and socio-technological dynamics can be better understood.
ETAC6, organized by the Institute for Technology Assessment (ITA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, brought together over 100 experts from 34 countries from June 2 to 4, 2025.