Converging Technologies
The term Converging Technologies (CT; in German "converging technologies") denotes the interdisciplinary , i.e. interdisciplinary, cooperation in the field of nanotechnology , biotechnology such as information technology and neurosciences (NBIC).
The concept of converging technologies was introduced in 2001 at the first of a series of innovation policy conferences hosted by the US National Science Foundation. The convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technologies and cognitive sciences (NBIC) is intended to create technologies that would enormously increase individual and social performance. The aim of optimization is the international competitiveness of the American economy. In 2003 the European Commission established an expert group to develop a European approach. While the US strategy seeks to optimize individuals through technical innovations, the European strategy focuses on realizing the technological potential of converging technologies through social innovations.
Research, especially in the USA , is being promoted by both the public and private sectors. One focus is on improving or restoring human performance (e.g. in the case of paraplegia ), as well as generally upgrading the quality of all areas of life on the basis of relevant research results. Since, among other things, the manipulation of healthy people is being considered (for example in the military sector), the objective is being questioned critically - although the public debate has so far been largely limited to specialist circles (see web links). However, the desired “improvements” in human body (functions) are only one area of possible applications.
literature
- High Level Expert Group, HLEG: Technological Convergence and the Future of European Societies. Foresight on the new technology wave , 2004, European Commission, Brussels.
Web links
- Access to the report of the first US conference on NBIC Convergence ("Converging Technologies for Improving Human Performance. Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information Technology and Cognitive Science")
- Website on the work of the EU High-Level Expert Group with reports from the working groups
- Report of the official rapporteur on the EU conference "Converging Technologies for a Diverse Europe" (PDF file; 277 kB)
- Report on the EU conference and criticism of the US NBIC initiative
- Selected links
- EU project CONTECS
- EU project KNOWLEDGE NBIC
- EU project ethics summer schools on nanotechnology and converging technologies
- Study on the Converging Technologies Debate (PDF file; 2.64 MB)
- Converging Technologies Conference 2010 Maribor website