CONVERGENCE IN ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR GREEN GROWTH

Transcription

1 CONVERGENCE IN ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR GREEN GROWTH O E C D W o r k s h o p o n G r e e n Te c h n o l o g y a n d I n n o v a t i o n P o l i c y P a r i s, 2 5 t h O c t o b e r Thomas Reiss Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI Karlsruhe, Germany thomas.reiss@isi.fraunhofer.de

2 Agenda Converging technologies concept an visions Converging technologies down to earth The case of synthetic biology Challenges and policy approaches Seite 2

3 The concept of converging technologies Starting point: Overlapping of disciplines and research fields Cogno Info Bio Nano Bainbridge, William Sims; Roco, Mihail C. (Eds.) (2006): Managing Nano-Bio-Info-Cogno Innovations. Converging Technologies in Society. Heidelberg, New York: Springer. Outgrow of the New York Conference in Seite 3

4 Converging technologies the vision (1) The convergence of Nano-Bio-Info-Cogno technologies will lead to a paradigm shift and would contribute to a rethinking of current growth patterns Converging technologies as generic problem solver? Seite 4

5 Converging technologies the vision (2) A combination of advanced technologies, especially information-, bioengineering-, and nanotechnologies, has the potential to radically change developed, capitalistic economies. The economy I envision is highly decentralized and sustainable. In this future, large numbers of households and small clusters of houses are capable of meeting many of their basic needs largely independent of the national and global economies. After the initial purchase of an inexpensive array of capital equipment, the homes and clustered neighborhoods will be able to generate their own electricity, recycle their own water, assemble materials for clothing,.. possibly manufacture custom-designed medicines, custom produce their own...entertainment products, and even grow a fair portion of their own food, using fast-growing, genetically modified organisms grown in.. real-time controlled green greenhouses. People will work cooperatively.. in their homes and neighborhoods to manage these systems to produce these and other products... (Tonn 2006, p. 313) Seite 5

6 Agenda Converging technologies concept an visions Converging technologies down to earth The case of synthetic biology Challenges and policy approaches Seite 6

7 Structuring CT in 8 application areas Attempt to structure CT not along abstract convergence principles or along disciplines but on the basis of concrete technological application fields mentioned in the diverse CT documents E F Application Cluster A Converging Technologies D B C Clustering process Concrete applications, products, ideas, methods, mentioned in the context of convergence Seite 7 Source: CONTECS Project

8 Clustering: 8 application areas of CT Neuro/ Brain enhancement Physical enhancement/ Biomedicine Synthetic Biology Converging Technologies Robots and intelligent software/ devices Human- Machine Interfaces Sensors Pattern recognition Computerbased modelling of the world Seite 8

9 Agenda Converging technologies concept an visions Converging technologies down to earth The case of synthetic biology Challenges and policy approaches Seite 9

10 What is Synthetic Biology ( SynBio) about? (1) engineer and study biological systems that do not exist as such in nature, and (2) use this approach for achieving better understanding of life processes, generating and assembling functional modular components, developing novel applications or processes. Seite 10

11 Based on convergence Diagnostics Therapeutics Drugs Vaccines Biomaterials Biofuels Biomedicine Bioremediation Biosensors Food ingredients Fine chemicals Social Sciences Chemistry Computer Science Systems Biology Biology Molecular Biology Engineering Science TESSY Physics 11 Seite 11

12 The SynBio roadmap h t t p : / / w w w. t e s s y - e u r o p e. e u / d o c u m e n t s. h t m l Scientific Milestones Knowledge transfer Funding Slide 12 Regulation Seite 12 infrastructures (registry, databases, shared production facilities) artificial vectors/ delivery systems in vitro production systems modelling (in silico) high throughput synthetic methods apply new perspective to research in the biological sciences implement interdisciplinary training } One European SB network local SB networks elaborate education/information material SB integration in existing curricula, postgraduate training funding for teaching funding of blue sky research standardisation: reporting IP clarification and harmonization clarification open source status development of clear guidance funding for safety/security analyses risk assesmment mechnisms clarification of ethical issues educational initiatives at all levels raise public awareness individual funding collaborative funding funding for legislative/regulatory analyses funding for socioethical analyses methods and components code of conduct translational funding coordinated regulation for biorisks/safety/security measures to prevent misuse support for commercialisation } all omics approaches biomedical products new materials sustainable chemical production energy supply understanding biocomplexity bioremediation, environ. sensors counterbioterrorism mathematics

13 The SynBio roadmap main features Four interconnected fields: Regulation Funding Knowledge transfer Scientific milestones with clear chronology, however moving targets Progress in one fields depends on advances/changes in other fields Seite 13 (Gaisser, S. Reiss, T. Lunkes. A., Müller, K, Bernauer H. (2009) EMBO rep. 10, Special Issue, S9 S8)

14 SynBiol: Assessment of scientific milestones Roadmap for scientific milestones Replace chemical processes with biological ones n= 121 Produce new materials based on SB n= 124 Produce biomedical products based on SB Use of efficient and clean energy production systems Apply engineering perspective at all scales of Establish efficient and large scale synthetic chemistry Set up automation technologies in analytical Establish cell factories (broad biotechnological Establish in vitro production systems (e.g. cell cultures, Establish high throughput synthetic methods Establish (life) databases of components Establish high throughput analytical methods Establish registries of components/models Relevance factor 3.26 n= 123 n= 125 n= 118 n= 116 n= 122 n= 125 n= 128 n= 125 n= 128 n= 125 n= Seite 14

15 Current status of SynBio in summary Scientific breakthroughs being made Few first steps towards commercialization Malaria drug Enzymatic pathways for degradation of lignocelluloses: biofuels Economic perspectives: Short term: biofuels Medium term: biomaterials, chemicals Long term: Medical applications (drug design) Strong media coverage, high public attention No guiding framework in place: governance, regulation, policy Seite 15

16 Agenda Converging technologies concept an visions Converging technologies down to earth The case of synthetic biology Challenges and policy approaches Seite 16

17 Challenges Codification and protection of knowledge Social embedding Policy support Seite 17

18 Codification and protection of knowledge SynBio is based on a research culture of openness and sharing of results in registries open innovation type Sharing and exchange require rules and standards, knowledge needs to be codified: DNA formats and functions Data exchange Characterization of parts Algorithms Models Reporting Seite 18

19 Social embedding (1) Regulatory issues Self regulation (soft) versus state (hard) regulation? When to switch from soft to hard? On what basis? Regulatory foresight: regulatory impact, relation to innovation? Governance issues Adequate governance structures? Role of collaborative and integrated approaches involving multistakeholder partnerships? Co-evolution between governance approaches and S&Tdevelopment? Seite 19

20 Social embedding (2) Public perception, role of Trust and Information Affectedness and involvement Regulation Governance Ethics Seite 20

21 Policy approaches (1) When and how to intervene? Are there typical diffusion patterns of converging technologies? How to monitor them, which metrics? How are they shaped by political intervention? When are the best windows of opportunity for policy intervention? Seite 21

22 Activity Dynamics of science based technologies diffusion euphoria disillusion rise discovery reorientation Time Seite 22

23 NUmber of patent applications (EPO) 3000 Example: industrial biotechnology (1) ???? Source: Fraunhofer ISI Seite 23

24 Number worldwide Example: industrial biotechnology (2) Publications Patents Source: Fraunhofer ISI Seite 24

25 Policy approaches (2) Selection (picking winners) or indirect support (e.g. providing infrastructure, supporting enabling capabilities)? Steering of processes and involvement of stakeholders Evolutionary approaches? Overcoming the interdisciplinary gap? Needs for specific structures or incentives? How are emerging fields anchored in traditional research areas? Co-evolution between converging technologies and learning policies Seite 25

26 THANK YOU! Seite 26