Comparative Table of Parliamentary TA Institutions
AUSTRIA - THE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
The way ahead
Since it was founded more than 20 years ago the Institute has
established itself as an important network node of the European TA
scene. One of the daily challenges is to walk the difficult line
between TA's aim to make a contribution to compatible forms of
technology in the sense of providing political and social consulting on
the one hand, and the institutional status within a research body that
is committed to (application-open) basic research and demands
scientific excellence on the other hand. Budgetary problems in the
basic funding, which have led to an increased pressure for third-party
funds, have so far been overcome thanks to the high level of
international networking and the large demand for TA expertise within
the ministries. A major chance for the future is to develop the
hitherto weak relationship with the Austrian Parliament.