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Foresight Study on the Risk Governance of New Technologies: The Case of Nanotechnology
Author(s) -
Read Sheona A. K.,
Kass Gary S.,
Sutcliffe Hilary R.,
Hankin Steven M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
risk analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.972
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1539-6924
pISSN - 0272-4332
DOI - 10.1111/risa.12470
Subject(s) - futures studies , corporate governance , futures contract , risk governance , emerging technologies , identification (biology) , strengths and weaknesses , business , order (exchange) , engineering , risk analysis (engineering) , management science , computer science , psychology , artificial intelligence , social psychology , botany , finance , biology
Technology‐led innovation represents an important driver of European economic and industrial competitiveness and offers solutions to societal challenges. In order to facilitate responsible innovation and public acceptance, a need exists to identify and implement oversight approaches focused on the effective risk governance of emerging technologies. This article describes a foresight study on the governance of new technologies, using nanotechnology as a case example. Following a mapping of the governance landscape, four plausible foresight scenarios were developed, capturing critical uncertainties for nanotechnology governance. Key governance elements were then stress tested within these scenarios to see how well they might perform in a range of possible futures and to inform identification of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for nanotechnology governance in Europe. Based on the study outcomes, recommendations are proposed regarding the development of governance associated with the responsible development of new technologies.