Richardson, Katherine and Renda, Andrea and Świeboda, Pavel and Walz, Rainer and Simonsson, Jon and Grabbe, Heather and Balland, Pierre-Alexandre and Dunlop, Kirsten and Alkemade, Floor and Muntean, Bianca and Christophilopoulos, Epaminondas and Huchet, Jean-François and Potočnik, Dunja and Weresa, Marzenna and Castaño Marin, Marialuisa (2024) Embedding anticipatory governance in Europe's transitions: a policy brief by the Expert Group on the Economic and Societal Impact of Research and Innovation (ESIR). Other. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
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Abstract
The current century is marked by unprecedented technology developments. While leading on some of them, the EU is struggling to keep pace on others. Attempting to revive its global position in the 2024-2029 policy cycle, the EU will need to remain cognizant of the fact that technology is an integral part of the broader societal transitions, and it must respect the overarching planetary boundaries. These are some of the reasons why technology governance is needed to orchestrate developments in line with European values. In the context of the overwhelming pace and scale of technology development, a proactive framework is needed to address its ethical, social, environmental and economic implications. Ensuring accountability and public trust requires restoring citizens’ and consumers’ sense of agency, which is ever more difficult in the face of the steady progress of the big tech companies. This is the logic behind the recent EU legislation which aims to create a new digital social contract and replaces ex post enforcement with ex ante regulation. In the meantime, research and innovation policy has evolved to be increasingly focused on the larger, transformative change, recognising the complexity of innovation and need for a systems-approach. Openness and transparent sharing of information about how technologies are developed and deployed are important foundational principles of responsible innovation and governance. Governments and international institutions cannot stand still but require greater knowledge and capacity to deal with complex problems. Understanding the rate of technological change and its underlying logic is a prerequisite of effective governance. This is particularly true in the current period of technology convergence, where developments in different disciplines are often combined. Decisions about the choice of a governance method need to reflect the technology’s maturity as well as its intrinsic characteristics, including the risks it poses. Available options range from “doing nothing”, to self-regulation, awareness raising, labelling, nudging, co-regulation, all the way to prescriptive regulatory measures. An integrated approach needs to acknowledge that policy development is a multistakeholder effort, not limited to governments. Due to the complexity and global scope of modern technologies like AI, genetic engineering, and quantum computing, governance frameworks need to be both comprehensive and flexible. They should address present challenges while also anticipating future advancements. In the new EU cycle, with much centrality attached to technology development, alternative futures, rather than a single future, need to be examined to enhance policy resilience. A complete spectrum of policy options needs to be considered, including “by design” approaches. Adequate space ought to be preserved for uncertainty and adaptation when choosing among policy options. Experimentation needs to be a permanent part of the toolbox, as well as regulatory sandboxes and greenhouses. Appropriate protocols, regular audits and compliance mechanisms are helpful to ensure safety. Protecting data and infrastructure from security threats is of essence. A high degree of transparency is needed for public trust. Finally, international cooperation brings additional value and should be the default position, unless outweighed by risks. Investing in technology revival and ensuring that technology has a sound governance framework are not only mutually compatible, but also reinforcing objectives. They should become EU priorities in the forthcoming term on an equal part.
| Item Type: | Monograph (Other) |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Language: English. - Series: Policy Brief. - ISBN 978-92-68-21808-2. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | European transitions, technology governance, societal impact, adaptations |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) |
| Depositing User: | Karolina |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Jan 2025 19:05 |
| Last Modified: | 05 May 2025 08:56 |
| URI: | https://idiprints.knjiznica.idi.hr/id/eprint/1206 |
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