Technology across borders: Exploring perspectives for pan-European Parliamentary Technology Assessment

Technology assessment is defined as a scientific, interactive and communicative process, which aims to inform and contribute to the formation of public and political opinion on societal, ethical, legal and economic aspects of science and technology. Parliamentary Technology Assessment (PTA) is technology assessment specifically aimed at informing and contributing to opinion formation of members of parliament.

PTA in Europe was initiated and developed in countries in northern and western parts of Europe and later also in Southern Europe. The main objective of this study is to trace the evolution of PTA from the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) in the United States to a future pan-European participatory PTA and to consider how PTA might develop in the future.