Comparative Table of Parliamentary TA Institutions

DENMARK - THE DANISH BOARD OF TECHNOLOGY

Work Procedures and Methods

DBT conducts technology assessments with a view to generating debate and clarification among the target groups – these being politicians, industry, NGOs, experts, citizens, etc. – depending on the issue at stake. This also includes groups in society which do not necessarily already see the need of debating technology.

To assess the functionality of actual technologies is not the task of DBT. Instead the focus must be on opportunities for and impacts on people, the environment and social conditions. The objective is to clarify dilemmas and conflicts. This does not always mean that technology assessments have to conclude in recommendations for a solution; technology assessments may provide knowledge, identify joint views, conflicts and options as a step towards finding a solution.

DBT draws on the best available expertise – in the widest sense – and often across professions and sectors. Expertise may be found among the traditional academia, but it may also be found among stakeholders, users, consumers, and lay people. This wide concept of expertise ensures that many types of knowledge and different values and interests are represented in the assessments.

METHODS

DBT considers it an essential task to contribute to the development of methods for assessing technology, especially in connection with methods involving the citizens, users and employees - those affected by the technology in question. DBT applies different methods for assessing technology:

Experts may conduct analyses which offer an overview of the issues. If experts are requested to make assessments, DBT normally makes certain to consult several experts with different approaches, possibly by establishing an interdisciplinary working group.
Citizens may formulate objectives, visions, requirements and needs. This can be facilitated by having participants criticize existing conditions and formulate visions and actions which could help solving problems. Or, a panel of citizens might question a panel
Technology assessment may also present information to the participants to give them an opportunity to debate an issue, thereby providing them with a background for making their own assessments. Thus, education of the general public could be considered a method of promoting the population´s own opportunities for assessing technology.

PROJECTS 2011

The 2011 work plan of DBT includes the following issues on which projects are initiated:

Energy producing buildings
Citizens´ engagement in energy supply and consumption
Harmful chemicals
Denmark as a pioneering country - responsible innovation
Long range waste management strategy - from waste to resource
Privacy protection in the "Internet of things"

Besides, DBT is working on externally financed projects, for example:

PACITA - EU project aiming at capacity building on TA in Europe. DBT is coordinating the project
DESSI - development of a decision support system on security investments. EU project, DBT as coordinator.
5 simultaneous Citizen Summits on the future health care system, arranged together with the 5 regions in Denmark.
A Citizen Summit on the Danish biodiversity action plan, arranged with the Ministry of Environment
Involvement of employees in welfare technology innovation - made for the Danish Welfare Fund.
BaltCICA - involvement of stakeholders and citizens in strategizing on increased water levels. EU project, involving the countries around the Baltic Sea.

Chapter Work Procedures and Methods - all countries

Country Report Denmark