Institute of Technology Assessment of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OeAW ITA)

The Institute of Technology Assessment performs inter-disciplinary scientific research at the interface of technology and society. Its work focusses on technological trends, on societal consequences and on options for the shaping of technological change. The research results provide the basis, i.a., for giving advice to decision-makers.

The Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) is a research facility of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OAW). It was founded in its present form on January 1st, 1994, based on its predecessor, the Technology Assessment Unit (TAU). At present the Institute employs about one and a half dozen scientific researchers whose specialist subject knowledge of economics, business management, sociology, political science, communications technology, psychology, philosophy, telecommunications, molecular biology, medicine, genetics, physics, chemistry and law is combined in the interdisciplinary field of technology assessment (TA). The core group is formed by teams of employees of the Institute, who are assisted when required by external experts.

The Institute is financed by the Austrian Academy of Sciences and by the Federal Ministry for Science Research and Economy, as well as by third-parties such as the Austrian Fund for Scientific Research, the Commission of the European Union, other federal ministries, and both the Austrian and the European Parliaments.

The ITA has been an associate member since 1992 and a full member of EPTA since 2013.