Comparative Table of Parliamentary TA Institutions

GREECE - GREEK PERMANENT COMMITTEE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT

The Greek Permanent Committee of Technology Assessment (GPCTA) is a parliamentary committee provided by the Standing Orders of the Hellenic Parliament. Its scope is to study national affairs or issues of general interest that emerge from technology development.

INSTITUTIONALISATION

GPTCA is instituted at the onset of every legislative period upon the Parliament´s decision following a proposal of the government or the presidents of the parliamentary groups. With the decision on the composition of the committee, the Parliament determines the topic that the committee will deal with and the deadline by which it will submit its findings. The special committees are composed by the one tenth (1/10) and up to the one fifth (1/5) of the total number of Members of Parliament (article 42). Currently it consists of 25 Members of Parliament representing all the parliamentary groups in the House.

Its task covers any matter within the sphere of research and technology development in order to give advice on relevant strategic issues. It is also entitled with the encouragement of international cooperation on technology assessment. Article 43 A of the Standing Orders of the Hellenic parliament provides also that the committee for the accomplishment of its task may cooperate with similar institutions functioning within the parliaments of other countries, encourage the international cooperation and research on TA matters and proceed to the exchange of information between the respective parliamentary institutions on TA.

The scientific support of its work is undertaken by the Directorate of Studies of the Hellenic Parliament. Several scientists and research fellows participate in the discussion meetings of the committee in order to present their points of view on TA matters.

ORGANISATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES (MISSION)

The committee, through its work, tries to leverage the promotion of research, technology and development in the country. The committee will support every significant effort in research and technology development. An important mission is to inform the citizens on developments in science and new technologies that take place both in Greece and the »global village« through the committee’s reports.

The main goals are:

Highlight the importance of investment in research and technology
Encourage the business community to invest in Reasearch, Technology and Development.
Assist the Ministry of Education to promote the work of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT)
Monitor the developments in scientific research and evaluate the benefit for society
Contribute to decision making and strategies in Research, Technology and Development

FINDING TOPICS

Areas, to which the Committee devotes special attention and derive topics from, are:

Environment: Innovative technological applications in the areas of protection and energy saving
Transportation: Presentation of new and alternative technology applications in reducing fuel consumption
Information and Communication Technologies: View of best practices in education and entrepreneurship
Health: Promoting internationally recognized medical research and technological applications in the areas of diagnosis, treatment, medicines and pharmaceutical industries.

In these areas seeks to:

Show good practices of cooperation of laboratory and applied research
Encourage innovative practices in the production process
Support winning international cooperation in research and technological development
Promotion of good practice in support of the private sector in the work of research institutions

WORK PROCEDURES AND METHODS

The Committee, after the topics are decided, organises meetings once or twice every month where the MPs are informed by invited experts on various themes.

The committee cooperates with:

the Ministry of Education and the General Secretariat
the Educational Institutions and Research Centres
Entrepreneurs who invest in research and technology

Also:

Visits to research centres and educational institutions in Greece and abroad are organised.
The cooperation with similar committees of parliaments of other countries, EU and other international agencies, organisations, institutes and research centres is encouraged.
Cooperation with other committees of the Hellenic Parliament and particularly the Environment Committee with which they have joint meetings when common issues occur.

TOPICS

A selection of topics in which the Committee was engaged recently:

Genetically modified food
Perspectives for the Hellenic satellite HELLAS - SAT
Briefing on the activities of the National Centre for Marine Research
Regulatory Authority on Energy
Internet Addiction of children and teenagers
Clinical Tests of Medicine
Renewable Energy Sources
National Programme on anti-seismic backing of existing buildings
Digital Course of the nation through the Information Society
Greek medical research and technology
Research and technology in food production and the Greek agricultural production
Greece´s participation in the European Programme for Infrastructure (HiPER)
Participation in developing a national strategy for research and technology

TARGET GROUPS

The main target group where the Committee communicates its findings is the Hellenic Parliament. All special standing committees after the study of a topic, submits a report to the Speaker.
Each committee at the end of every parliamentary year also submits a report to the Plenary, which is recorded in the minutes and on which a debate follows, without a vote at a special meeting at the beginning of the next year.

COMMUNICATION AND PUBLICATIONS

Every report and its outcomes together with the relevant supporting documents are kept in the archives of the committee and deposited at the end of each parliamentary year in the Archives of the Parliament. Those documents are available to the public through the website of the Hellenic Parliament (only in Greek).

IMPACT

The special standing committees or subcommittees may decide or suggest an opinion when this is decided by the Conference of Presidents according to the Constitution the Parliament´s Standing Orders and the law or regulation of the relevant jurisdiction.
Any special Standing Committee may, during the preparation or proposal of a law and before the second reading of the articles, to give an opinion on a matter of great importance of that proposal, which falls within its competence.

THE WAY AHEAD

The committee has mainly an advisory role but recently it was decided to examine more closely the Greek research and development system. The committee follows, as much as possible, the research and technology development in our country.
It tries to demonstrate the role of science, technology and innovation and how these can change the development model of the country on a path of sustainable growth and competitive economy. It highlights the characteristics and the capabilities of the Greek research system, which in turn will support the design of appropriate policies.

CONTACT

Greek Permanent Committee of Research and Technology Assessment
Directorate of Studies
Hellenic Parliament
Palaia Anaktora
Athens 10021
Greece

Director: Prof. Costas Papadimitriou

Fon +30 210 373 5053, 5075
Fax +30 210 373 5077, 5070

k.papadimitriou@parliament.gr
www.parliament.gr