Work Package 3; Promote EU-China collaboration in Science &
Technology policy advisory
WP3 focuses on Science & Technology (S&T) policy advisory structures in the two regions. Technology
Assessment, as the formal policy advisory tool, is investigated in terms of its location in the policy
decision making structures, the methodologies employed in producing policy reports and the impact
that these have in promoting policies in the two regions. The specific objectives of WP3 are to:
o
Review and evaluate the state-of-the-art of methodologies and practices used in current
European and Chinese Technology Assessment as S&T policy advisory.
o
Identify common themes and practices and provide a comprehensive list of TA organisations in
the two regions with similar activities and potential for collaboration.
o
Establish a concrete plan of collaboration in S&T policy advisory resulting from the comparative
evaluation of methods and impact in TA and based on the particular context and policy structures
of the two regions.
The first objective (review and evaluate the state-of-the-art of methodologies and practices used in
current European and Chinese Technology Assessment as S&T policy advisory) was the focus of the
first half of the BILAT-SILK project process. In order to reach this aim, representatives of key TA
institutes in the two regions were brought together to describe their respective work in terms of
institutional setting, formal location in policy, thematic focus, methodological parameters, aims and
impact assessment issues. The ensuing information exchange and discussion forms the basis for a
comparative review, which is the first step in identifying key issues which are common to the two
regions, as well as first thoughts towards a common road-mapping in the area.
The first WP3 workshop, Science Policy Advisory; Chinese and European Perspectives was held in
Beijing on 2-3 September 2010. The workshop was organised by UCLAN with collaboration from
CSTEC http://www.casted.org.cn/web/index.php?ChannelID=64 and CASTED
http://www.casted.org.cn/web/index.php?ChannelID=64. Participants included some of the
main European Parliamentary Offices of S&T (European Parliament, Germany, Netherlands), other
major TA organisations (ITAS, BGI) as well as similar Chinese S&T Think-Tanks of the Ministry of S&T.
Two paradigmatic case studies on Nanotechnologies and Genetically Modified Crops were chosen for
presentation as best practices in Technology Assessment with presentations by key TA experts from
the two regions. In addition, the European experts had the opportunity to discuss issues directly with
their Chinese counterparts during a series of visits to TA institutes in Beijing.
For agenda please return to previous page.