SEBEROC
Simulating and Evaluating a Better Regulation of Converging
Consortium members
- Society for Institutional Analysis
- University of Cardiff
- Finnish Environment Institute SYKE
- Universiteit van Amsterdam
Overveiw
The aim of the proposed research is to test a novel robust method of response management and public engagement in the management and regulation of converging technologies, with a special view on human health and environmental impacts. A multi-step procedure that combines NGO consultation and focus groups with consumers will be deployed to one prospective and one retrospective case of converging technologies. The process design is informed by the concept of responsive regulation that pays particular attention to the ways actors and consumers respond to regulation and handle products due to the incentive structure and/or routine behaviour. The comparative approach with two converging technologies – nanotechnology and genetic engineering – in four countries will generate eight cases from which lessons will be drawn dialogically by researchers and NGOs.
The project addresses pillar three of the third SKEP call: “response management, including communication and public engagement”, and cross-cutting theme 3: Human health and environmental impacts. While so far no such impacts have actually been observed as an effect of onverging technologies (CT), there are wide-spread concerns among experts and the broader public that the possibility of such impacts to occur cannot be ruled out categorically.
Project website
SYKE website
Project outputs
- final report
- policy brief
- joint manuscript for a high ranking international peer reviewed journal.
Contacts for further information
Finnish Environment Institute SYKE