European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
Mihalis Kritikos
What if manmade biological organisms could help treat cancer? [Science and Technology Podcast]
Written by Mihalis Kritikos, Synthetic biology is expected to begin to design, construct and develop artificial (i.e. man-made) biological systems that mimic or even go beyond naturally-occurring biological systems. Applications of synthetic biology in the healthcare domain hold great promise, but also raise a number of questions. What are the benefits and challenges of this … Continue reading
New ways to finance cross-border transport infrastructure
Written by Mihalis Kritikos, Border regions face considerable challenges when it comes to cross-border transport infrastructure. These regions therefore need Member States’ support to develop their own unique mobility and transport plans. Publication of a forthcoming STOA study on innovative transport infrastructure funding, expected in November 2017, will follow a presentation to the STOA Panel on … Continue reading
Organoids: a new technology which could change our lives
By Mihalis Kritikos. Organoids are artificially grown organs that mimic the properties of real organs, providing new possibilities for treating diseases, drug development, and personalised and regenerative medicine. Organoids are small clusters of human cells, grown in a laboratory environment to form three-dimensional structures that mimic the functionalities of real organs such as the liver, … Continue reading
STOA Workshop: Innovative financing for cross-border transport
Webstreaming Written by Mihalis Kritikos, While EU funding is available for large-scale trans-European transport infrastructures, less seems to be spent on smaller projects in Europe’s border regions, which rely on cross-border transport of goods and passengers. Cross-border projects to remove bottlenecks and bridge the gaps identified between national networks are vital for an efficient and … Continue reading
Opportunities and challenges of 5G in the EU
Written by Mihalis Kritikos. ‘The European Union will manage to gain a competitive advantage if it takes a leading role in the definition and standardisation of 5G technologies’ is how Eva Kaili, (S&D, Greece), Chair of Parliament’s Scientific and Technology Options Assessment (STOA), opened the workshop on ‘Opportunities and challenges of 5G in the EU’, which … Continue reading
STOA Workshop: Opportunities and challenges of 5G in the EU
Webstreaming Hashtag: #STOA5G Written by Mihalis Kritikos 5G has been described as the most critical building block of our ‘digital society’, as it promises a new wave of technology services – from driverless cars to smart home appliances – and mobile broadband download rates up to 60 times faster than from the current 4G providers. … Continue reading
Ethical and social challenges of agricultural technologies
Written by Mihalis Kritikos with James Tarlton, ‘We shouldn’t hinder technological development, but we should … protect our citizens and our natural resources” is how Marijana Petir (EPP, Croatia), a member of the European Parliament’s STOA (Science and Technology Options Assessment) Panel, opened the ‘ethical and social challenges of agricultural technologies – issues for decision-makers’, … Continue reading
Making difficult decisions in agriculture: STOA Workshop
Written by Mihalis Kritikos and Nera Kuljanic, Scientists have new technological answers to the twin challenges of limiting emissions and feeding a growing population which is simultaneously shrinking the space left for cultivation. However, these answers in turn pose their own ethical and risk management questions. Societal actors and a wide range of stakeholders have … Continue reading
Technology and inequality: Can computers help or is it ‘all their fault’?
Written by Dr Mihalis Kritikos, On 11 October 2016, the European Parliament’s Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Panel will host a workshop, chaired by Panel member Georgi Pirinski (S&D, Bulgaria), to discuss the effects of new technologies on labour markets. The workshop will bring together policy-makers, experts from academia, industry representatives and NGOs to assess … Continue reading
What if we could make ourselves invisible to others? [Science and Technology Podcast]
Written by Philip Boucher and Mihalis Kritikos, with Liliana Cunha and Brian Kelly, Through developments in the field of metamaterials, we may be able to create products with surprising capabilities, from making DNA visible to making buildings invisible, but have we considered the risks, as well as the benefits? Metamaterials are materials that are designed … Continue reading
How will robots change our lives? New study on the Ethics of Cyber-Physical Systems
Updated on 20 July 2016 Written by Lieve van Woensel, Christian Kurrer and Mihalis Kritikos, Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are defined as technical systems of networked computers, robots and artificial intelligence that interact with the physical world. In order to support the Members of the European Parliament in their anticipation of possible future concerns regarding developments … Continue reading
What if others could read your mind? [Science & Technology Podcast]
Written by Philip Boucher, Mihalis Kritikos and Lieve Van Woensel, Brain-computer interface technology has been advancing rapidly and will continue to do so as our knowledge of how the brain works increases. Could this transform our understanding of life as we know it? A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a direct communication pathway between the brain … Continue reading
What if injections weren’t needed anymore?
Written by Mihalis Kritikos and Lieve Van Woensel Synthetic biology is expected to design, construct and develop artificial (i.e. man-made) biological systems that mimic or even go beyond naturally-occurring biological systems. What are the benefits of this emerging field? Are there any ethical and social issues arising from this engineering approach to biology? The interdisciplinary … Continue reading
How can European cities become smart and sustainable?
Written by Mihalis Kritikos Urban stakeholders, urban policy-makers and representatives from the European institutions and beyond joined the STOA workshop ‘Transition towards Sustainable and Liveable Urban Futures’ on 29 September in Brussels. The event was chaired by Paul Rübig MEP, STOA Chair, and moderated by Jan Olbrycht MEP, President of the European Parliament’s URBAN Intergroup. … Continue reading
A research and innovation agenda for European urban areas and cities
Written by Mihalis Kritikos Follow the event via webstreaming or join the discussion on Twitter with #UrbanSTOA In the 21st century, the world enters the urban age; in which the urban half of the global population is responsible for around 80 % of global economic activity. The European Union is more urban still, with 75 … Continue reading
