Institute of Technology Assessment
Encyclopedia
The Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) (German: Institut für Technikfolgen-Abschätzung) 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
(TA). The institute organises since many years the internationally renowned annual TA conferences in Vienna and serves as a national and international networking node of the TA community. ITA is an associated member of the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment
(EPTA) network , is a founding member of the German speaking Network NTA (Netzwerk Technikfolgenabschätzung) and is, since 2008, a member of the European Technology Assessment Group
(ETAG).
. Its founding director was the physicist prof. Ernest Braun (previously director of the Technology Policy Unit at Aston University
in Great Britain). Second director was the economist prof. Gunther Tichy (full professor at the University of Graz
and senior researcher at the Austrian Institute of Economic Research in Vienna. Since 2006 Michael Nentwich, law and STS (science and technology studies
) scholar, directs the institute. Currently, the institute has approx. twenty staff members, among them 16 researchers from the natural and engineering sciences, humanities and social sciences.
Austrian Academy of Sciences
The Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every field, particularly in fundamental research...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
The ITA is the only institution in Austria that is fully devoted to 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). The institute organises since many years the internationally renowned annual TA conferences in Vienna and serves as a national and international networking node of the TA community. ITA is an associated member of the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment
European Parliamentary Technology Assessment
The European Parliamentary Technology Assessment is a network of technology assessment institutions specialising in advising parliamentary bodies in Europe.- Objectives :...
(EPTA) network , is a founding member of the German speaking Network NTA (Netzwerk Technikfolgenabschätzung) and is, since 2008, a member of the European Technology Assessment Group
European Technology Assessment Group
The European Technology Assessment Group is a cooperative network of scientific institutions that carries out studies in the field of technology assessment on behalf of the European Parliament.-History and Mission:...
(ETAG).
History
Founded in 1985 as a working group within the former "Institute for Socio-economic Development Research and Technology Assessment" (Institut für Sozio-ökonomische Entwicklungsforschung und Technikbewertung, ISET), since end of 1987 independent as "Technology Assessment Unit (TAU)" („Forschungsstelle für Technikbewertung“, FTB)); since 1994 an institute (ITA) of the Austrian Academy of SciencesAustrian Academy of Sciences
The Austrian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity under the special protection of the Federal Republic of Austria. According to the statutes of the Academy its mission is to promote the sciences and humanities in every respect and in every field, particularly in fundamental research...
. Its founding director was the physicist prof. Ernest Braun (previously director of the Technology Policy Unit at Aston University
Aston University
Aston University is a "plate glass" campus university situated at Gosta Green, in the city centre of Birmingham, England.Established in 1895 as the Birmingham Municipal Technical School, Aston was granted its Royal Charter as Aston University on 22 April 1966...
in Great Britain). Second director was the economist prof. Gunther Tichy (full professor at the University of Graz
University of Graz
The University of Graz , a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria....
and senior researcher at the Austrian Institute of Economic Research in Vienna. Since 2006 Michael Nentwich, law and STS (science and technology studies
Science and technology studies
Science, technology and society is the study of how social, political, and cultural values affect scientific research and technological innovation, and how these, in turn, affect society, politics and culture...
) scholar, directs the institute. Currently, the institute has approx. twenty staff members, among them 16 researchers from the natural and engineering sciences, humanities and social sciences.
Main areas of research
The ITA focuses on the following themes:- The information societyInformation societyThe aim of the information society is to gain competitive advantage internationally through using IT in a creative and productive way. An information society is a society in which the creation, distribution, diffusion, use, integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic,...
, in particular "E-governanceE-GovernanceSeveral dimension and related factors influence the definition of eGovernance. The word “electronic” in the term e-Governance implies technology driven governance...
: ICTInformation and communication technologiesInformation 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...
in the realm of the state", "PrivacyPrivacyPrivacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
and security technologies" and "Infrastructure and net innovations" (with a focus on the InternetInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
) - GovernanceGovernanceGovernance is the act of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or part of management or leadership processes...
of technology controversies - Technology and sustainabilitySustainabilitySustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
- Cross-cutting issues of technology assessmentTechnology assessmentTechnology 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 :...
External links
- Homepage of ITA
- Austrian Academy of Sciences
- Brochure in German (PDF-Datei; 919 kB)