Estonian Pilot Action on Technology Assessment

1
Estonian Pilot Action on Technology Assessment

• Rene Tõnnisson
• Institute of Baltic Studies

2
Estonia in short
Population 1.35 million Area 45,000
km2 Language Estonian GDP 7 300 Euro GDP
growth 11.8 (2006) Export 63 of GDP
.
Tartu
3
Estonian Policy Context and Framework Conditions

• Succesful transition economy with dominating
  neo-liberal policy approach
• Long time no policy policy in innovation,
  industrial and technology policy areas
• Increased understanding that unbalanced and
  unsustainable development model can not be
  followed in long run
• Necessity to look on alternatives to the previous
  policy approach

4

• Main Challenges of Estonian Economy
• Low share of high tech employment in industry
• Lower productivity compared to EU average
• Low investment into innovation and new product
  development
• Exports based on sub-contracting
• Weak position in international markets
• Low knowledge of technical norms and regulations
  applicable to various products and markets in
  Europe

5
Previous Experience with SPI tools

• Althought there has been several foresight type
  of activities undertaken in Estonia their impact
  however on policy making has been minimal
• Classical strategic planning approached are
  mostly dominating the Estonian policy landscape

6
Rationale for the Technology Assessment Pilot
Action in Estonia

• While the foresight activities in Estonia have
  clearly identified the challenges mentioned
  previously there is still lack of specific
  programmes to address those challenges and the
  findings of the foresight have not yet been fully
  put into actions
• Increased competences and skills are needed in
  SPI to develop suitable instruments TA could be
  one of the most appropriate tools to take the
  development further

7
Possible Technology Assessment in Estonian Policy
Context

• Full scale Technology Assessment exercise could
  help to better understand the existing
  technological potential and perspective
  developments in Estonia in certain priority areas
  and more importantly provide a strategy how its
  potential and perspectives can be utilised in a
  most effective way for the benefit of society and
  economy at large

8
Scope of the Pilot Action within REGSTRAT Project

• As it is not possible to undertake the full
  fledged TA exercise within Regstrat project then
  we have proposed a pilot action to prepare the
  ground for the full scale TA and act as a
  catalyst
• We propose to focus on 2 type of activities
  within the pilot action awareness raising and
  pre-scoping (including elements of training)
• In order to be more focused we have proposed to
  carry out the pilot action within the
  biotechnology area because we can build on
  previous foresight results and building momentum
  is easier as the key stakeholders have high
  interest in new policy tools in this area

9
Preparatory Steps

• Meetings to explore the necessity and viability
  of TA with relevant stakeholders Ministries of
  Economic Affairs, Education and Research,
  Estonian Academy of Science, Estonian Biotech
  Association, Science and Technology Parks
• Distributing the background materials on TA to
  relevant stakeholders

10
Awareness Raising

• The aim would be to increase the understanding
  for relevant stakeholders how TA can be used for
  better policy making and implementation and what
  are the possible benefits and what results can be
  expected based on the case studies from other
  European regions
• As preparation of Estonian Biotechnology strategy
  is currently underway the awareness raising
  activity can create added value to the existing
  policy process in terms of introducing new tools
  how this process can be made more effective

11
Pre-scoping

• Pre-scoping activity would help to outline the
  necessary criteria which would allow to decide
  the possible scope of a TA exercise in Estonia
• As we have propose to focus the pilot on on
  biotechnology area then the pre-scoping activity
  should determine what areas of biotechnology
  (red, green, white) will be covered and how much
  aspects above tehnological (such as economic,
  social, ethical, legal, etc) will be studied.

12
Problems Encountered so far

• Lack of understanding of the potential use and
  benefits of Technology Assessment methodology
• Short term agendas versus long term planning
• Lack of shared vision on policy planning amongst
  key stakeholders

13
Expected Outcomes

• Increased awareness on TA amongst key
  stakeholders
• Defined scope of the possible TA exercise
• Increased skill level for undertaking the TA
• Launching of full scale TA exercise

14
Envisaged Impacts

• New methods of policy planning introduced and
  used in Estonian policy development context
• Specific strategy devised and launched in field
  of biotechnology and later possibly also in other
  technology areas

15
Issues for discussion

• How to get commitment from key stakeholders if
  they do not have an initial ownership of the
  idea?
• What is the best approach to provide relevant
  training on TA skills during the pilot or is the
  learning by doing the best option?
• What is the best balance between technological
  and process oriented expertise within a core TA
  team?