EPINET

Integrated Assessment of Societal Impacts of Emerging Science and Technology from within Epistemic Networks

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The EPINET project will investigate conditions for the development of more integrated technology assessment (TA) methods. It will develop methods and criteria to be used for more socially robust and efficient practices on the interfaces between TA and the world of policy makers and innovators. At present, a large number of TA methodologies and practices exist. Many of these are based on varying – and sometimes conflicting, unclear - values, presuppositions, interests and commitments. This is problematic, insofar as differing conclusions and recommendations will follow from different methodologies and disciplines; hence the need for more integrated approaches. However, the irreducible difference of perspectives and plurality in the field of TA needs to be recognised and used as a resource. EPINET introduces the concept of epistemic networks as a way of conceptualising complex developments within emerging fields of sociotechnical innovation practices. It establishes a weak or “soft” framework within which the plurality of different TA practices can be explored in a concerted and holistic manner; EPINET uses this to study four cases: wearable sensors, cognition for technical systems, synthetic meat and smart grids. “Integrating TA”, it is claimed, is a task for empirical investigation in which implicit values of TA methodologies, disciplines and practices are spelled out and placed in relation to the practices they are meant to assess. This is the context of innovation conceptualised through the concept of emerging and future epistemic networks. EPINET develops a holistic framework for integrating assessments through gradual co-production of methodologies and concepts (centrally that of “responsible innovation”) together with innovators and policy makers. The challenges of “integrating assessments”, we claim, can only be gradually worked out within such a holistic view of complex intersecting networks and practices.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Various methods exist to evaluate scientific and technological developments and their potential implications for society and the environment. The EPINET project addresses challenges of how to achieve better integrations of such assessments into research, innovation and policy making.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

At present there exists a great diversity for assessing the impacts of science and technology on society and the environment. This project explores new ways for bringing more of these methodologies into concert with each other, as well as with the concerns of innovators, policy makers and citizens.

The http://www.epinet.no (EPINET) project introduces the concept of epistemic networks as a way of conceptualising complex developments within emerging fields of sociotechnical innovation. It establishes a weak or "soft" framework within which the plurality of different assessment practices can be explored in a concerted and holistic manner. The aim is to develop ways of assessing new innovations that are pluralist, inclusive of multiple disciplines and, to a greater extent than at present, capable of implementing reflexive change and mutual learning, while maintaining a common focus on social robustness, i.e., sustainable, meaningful and responsible developments. EPINET researchers have developed a concept of epistemic networks and used it in order to map a number of actors within four technological innovation domains: wearable sensors for activity and physiological monitoring; autonomous robots for care and companionship; synthetic/ in-vitro meat, and smart grids for power supply. The main stages of the project are the following. The Initial assessment (months 1-12) is the first stage. It corresponds to a general mapping of methodologies, networks and policy issues, including intrinsic values, framing premises and purposes shaping methodologies and procedures.

Embedding assessments (months 13-24) is the second stage. It expands initial assessments by bringing them into interaction with different epistemic networks; scenario development activities will bring together broad groups of thinkers and practitioners to explore pressing policy issues through two workshops.

Comparison and integration (months 25-36) is the final stage. It will compare, analyse and work out the general implications of the project.

One key assumption employed and tried out by EPINET is that integration of perspectives cannot be a matter of methodological developments only, but is primarily something to be achieved in actual practice. One shift of focus that seems to follow from this is to move from the implied assumption that methodological elaboration will be sufficient, to the idea that some of the issues require appropriate carefully designed institutional changes. Another result to emerge from EPINET research is that there is a need to consider more carefully the ways in which certain technologies and innovation domains are deemed proper responses to societal challenges.