Posts Tagged ‘converging technologies’
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
Many experts think that the technological convergence of previously separated sciences like nanotechnology, biotechnology, information and communication technologies and cognitive sciences will have a deep, long-term impact on society and economy. Key actors in society need to become aware of the challenges linked to converging applications (CA) and take decisions in support of developing them. By analysing CA-related opportunities and risks at a very early stage, we hope to contribute to reducing possible adverse effects in the future.
EFMN Brief No. 152_ICT and Cognitive Science
Tags: artificial intelligence, biology, building (housing), cognition, cognitive science, converging technologies, entertainment, health care, housing, medicine, privacy, roadmap, safety, sensors, services, SME, software
Posted in brief, Environment (including climate change), EU, Food, agriculture and fisheries, biotechnology, FP7 Themes, Geography, Health, Information and communication technologies (ICT), Nanosciences, nanotechnology, materials, new production technologies, Socio-economic sciences and the humanities, Time Horizon, until 2015 | Comments Off
Sunday, May 22nd, 2011
Through a renewed mandate in 2005 aimed at strengthening the coordination of research efforts in Europe, the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) launched a foresight process to consider the prospects for agriculture in 2015 – 2020 and to help identify political answers to the challenges raised. In July 2006, the European Commission’s Directorate-General Research set up a Foresight Expert Group to support SCAR in identifying long-term research priorities to support a European knowledge-based biosociety. The group was given the remit to formulate possible scenarios for European agriculture in a 20-year perspective allowing for the identification of evidence required (for more robust policy approaches) and innovation needs in the medium to long-term.
EFMN Brief No. 142_ Agrifutures in Europe
Tags: arts, climate, converging technologies, demographic change, developing countries, education, environmental sustainability, migration, mobility, regional development, safety, services, sustainability
Posted in brief, Energy, Environment (including climate change), EU, Food, agriculture and fisheries, biotechnology, FP7 Themes, Geography, Health, Security, Socio-economic sciences and the humanities, Time Horizon, until 2020 | Comments Off
Saturday, May 21st, 2011
As stated in the recent EC Communication on ‘Reforming the budget, changing Europe’ (SEC (2007) 1188), the European Union has a key role to play in ‘providing security and safety to citizens’. Especially in the aftermath of 11th Sept. 2001 security related issues are becoming an increasingly important facet of global society and have an increasing impact on economy and science. The issues are manifold and include protecting citizens and state from organized crime, preventing terrorist acts, and responding to natural and manmade disasters. Civil security issues are becoming more and more important to governments and national economies across the globe, and the EU is no exception. The EC sees security research as an important policy objective, which started in 2001 with a Preparatory Action on Security Research (PASR) and is now the tenth theme of the FP7 Cooperation programme. Security and safety technologies are seen to have applications in many sectors including transport, civil protection, energy, environment, health and financial systems.
EFMN Brief No. 134_Safety_and_Security
Tags: arts, building (housing), chemicals, chemistry, cities, climate, converging technologies, defense, electronics, financial services, manufacturing, marine, migration, mobility, privacy, roadmap, safety, services, software, terrorism, water
Posted in brief, Energy, Environment (including climate change), EU, Food, agriculture and fisheries, biotechnology, FP7 Themes, Geography, Health, Information and communication technologies (ICT), Security, Socio-economic sciences and the humanities, Time Horizon, Transport (including aeronautics) | Comments Off
Friday, May 20th, 2011
Although the term ‘Singularity’ or ‘Technological singularity’ has already infatuated both the scientific and the science fiction com-munity alike throughout the 20th century, there is reason enough to report about the ongoing activities in this area. So far it is possible to distinguish between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related issues and the prospective fusion of emerging technologies such as nano-, bio-, information and cognitive technologies (NBIC) – also referred to as converging technologies. It is assumed that there will be an immense technological and consequently economic shift once those technologies surpass the boundaries of human intelligence in the 21st century.
EFMN Brief No. 114 – Singularity
Tags: artificial intelligence, biology, construction, converging technologies, electronics, fuel cell, hydrogen, manufacturing, media, medicine, NBIC, physics, robotics, services, software
Posted in brief, Energy, FP7 Themes, Geography, Global, Health, Nanosciences, nanotechnology, materials, new production technologies, Socio-economic sciences and the humanities, Space, Time Horizon, until 2050 | Comments Off
Friday, May 20th, 2011
Europe is currently facing the challenge of a highly dynamic and fluid policy context. It is confronted with a seemingly accelerating pace of change, both internally and externally. Internally, a culturally diverse, ageing and risk-averse population, a mix of high tech and declining industries and growing environmental and security concerns require governments to design new frameworks for re-search and innovation. Externally, this policy context is influenced by and influences the emergence of key technologies. The speed and the magnitude of their disruptive impact on the economy and society in turn depend on and are embedded in a wide range of socio-cultural factors.
This challenge calls for a substantial leap forward in thinking and mindsets, by moving from incrementally improving on business-as-usual approaches to exploring new paradigms and alternative futures. A redefinition of the “European model” is called for, capturing the minds and spirits, and bringing together the inherent collective strengths of the EU and its 27 member states. It should comprise a combination of strategic responses addressing short to medium and long-term research policy agendas. For this purpose, a Key Tech-nologies High Level Group composed of experts in 15 key technology areas, and led by a chairperson and a rapporteur, was set up by the K2 Unit of Directorate-General Research, to “assess the potential and the emerging scientific and technological research topics in fifteen specific areas, their impact on EU competitiveness and societal fabric, and the potential response of EU and its Member States”.[1]
EFMN Brief No. 102 – Creative System Disruption
Tags: consumption, converging technologies, corporate, environmental technologies, health care, manufacturing, services, social science, universities
Posted in brief, Energy, EU, Food, agriculture and fisheries, biotechnology, FP7 Themes, Geography, Health, Nanosciences, nanotechnology, materials, new production technologies, Security, Socio-economic sciences and the humanities, Time Horizon, Transport (including aeronautics) | Comments Off
Friday, May 20th, 2011
Knowledge and innovation are the key factors in ensuring Flanders’ future prosperity and welfare. The government, companies and knowledge institutions must join forces to create focus and critical mass in strategic areas that strengthen Flanders’ competitive position and offer potentially substantial social benefits. Foresight studies are an excellent means of linking science and technology with innovation in industry and society while at the same time creating a decision-supporting framework for regional innovation policy and its relationship with regional economic developments.
EFMN Brief No. 98 – Technology and Innovation in Flanders
Tags: biology, converging technologies, education, health care, manufacturing, medicine, optics, photonics, services, sustainability, vehicle
Posted in Belgium, brief, Energy, Environment (including climate change), Food, agriculture and fisheries, biotechnology, FP7 Themes, Geography, Health, Information and communication technologies (ICT), Nanosciences, nanotechnology, materials, new production technologies, Regional, Security, Socio-economic sciences and the humanities, Time Horizon, Transport (including aeronautics), until 2015 | Comments Off
Friday, May 20th, 2011
New technologies will radically alter both the future of design and the design of the future. While design used to be a means in order to bring the very essence of given objects – mostly products, to the fore – “form follows function” -, bio-, nano- and information technologies will enable designers to interfere into the foundation of life and nature. In consequence, the possibility to design Bits, Atoms, Neurons, and Genes (BANG-Design) will trigger a convergence of design and science and lead to yet unknown ways to design objects and products.
EFMN Brief No. 86 – The Future of Design
Tags: cities, climate, converging technologies, media, sensors, social change, social science
Posted in brief, Environment (including climate change), Food, agriculture and fisheries, biotechnology, FP7 Themes, Geography, Global, Nanosciences, nanotechnology, materials, new production technologies, Security, Socio-economic sciences and the humanities, Time Horizon, until 2010 | Comments Off
Friday, May 20th, 2011
The study aims to determine the evolution of social communication media in Spain within the next 15 years with special attention to the impact of new technologies in this area. The specific objective pursued by this forecast is to provide information that helps Public Administrations in their decision-making and companies in facing challenges of the future.
EFMN Brief No. 64 – Communication Media Spain 2018
Tags: consumption, converging technologies, entertainment, media, services, universities
Posted in brief, Environment (including climate change), FP7 Themes, Geography, National, Socio-economic sciences and the humanities, Spain, Time Horizon, until 2015 | Comments Off
Friday, May 6th, 2011
The objective of this Platform Foresight project is the analysis of emerging science and technology priorities in public research policies of the European countries, the US and Japan. The aim is to provide the European Commission and the member states with policy recommendations as to become leaders in these emerging technologies.
EFMN Brief No. 42 – Emerging S+T Priorities in the Triadic Regions
Tags: biology, chemistry, consumption, converging technologies, demography, developing countries, education, environmental technologies, life science, media, medicine, mobile communication, polymers, robotics, sensors, services, software, solar cells, venture capital
Posted in brief, Energy, Environment (including climate change), EU, Food, agriculture and fisheries, biotechnology, FP7 Themes, Geography, Health, Information and communication technologies (ICT), Nanosciences, nanotechnology, materials, new production technologies, Security, Socio-economic sciences and the humanities, Time Horizon, Transport (including aeronautics), until 2035 | Comments Off
Friday, May 6th, 2011
The purpose of the project was to analyse the scientific strengths of the EU compared to the USA and Japan in the field of ‘converging technologies’ with the aim of informing and influencing the European research agenda.
EFMN Brief No. 40 – Converging Technologies
Tags: biology, cognitive science, converging technologies, electronics, health care, knowledge society, medicine, NBIC, neuroscience, photonics, roadmap, robotics, sensors, services, terrorism
Posted in brief, EU, Food, agriculture and fisheries, biotechnology, FP7 Themes, Geography, Health, Information and communication technologies (ICT), Nanosciences, nanotechnology, materials, new production technologies, Security, Socio-economic sciences and the humanities, Space, Time Horizon, Transport (including aeronautics), until 2010 | Comments Off
