European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
STOA
Achieving a sovereign and trustworthy ICT industry in the EU
An increasing number of European citizens, enterprises and public bodies depend on ICT tools (both hardware and software) to run their critical processes, while the internet is becoming a crucial platform in the citizens’ daily lives in the European Union (EU). However, the core of critical services and the protection of key assets and critical infrastructures are mainly based on technologies developed by non-EU companies. Some of these companies are closely linked to foreign governments, whose interests may differ from those of the EU, and who do not always follow European standards and certifications. Continue reading
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
Foresight: a policy tool for anticipating technology trends
Written by Lieve Van Woensel with Victoria Joseph, Since early 2015, the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Panel at the European Parliament, has been experimenting with science and technology foresight, to provide Members with insights that will help them anticipate possible future developments. Foresight is a fundamental path in policy-making, as policy-making is often … 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
Intelligent urban transport systems: a new technology which could change our lives
By Christian Kurrer, with James Tarlton Can information technology contribute to alleviating traffic gridlock in our increasingly congested urban areas? Over 70 % of all Europeans live in cities, and as this percentage continues to increase, cities become even more congested. Inhabitants suffer from increasingly poor air quality and more noise, as their cities become … Continue reading
Radio frequency identification tags: a new technology which could change our lives
By Lieve Van Woensel and Andrés Garcia, University Castilla La Mancha, Spain (guest contributor), with James Tarlton The Internet of Things is slated to transform our way of life – while radio frequency identification tags, and other short-range communication devices, are already with us – how might this technology change our way of life? Radio … Continue reading
MEP-scientist pairing scheme: launching the sixth edition
Written by Zsolt G. Pataki with Amr Dawood, We are drowning in information, but find it increasingly difficult to discern what is factual and what is not. We need to create spaces where knowledge can be exchanged with a fair degree of confidence and trust among interlocutors. In this spirit, STOA‘s MEP-scientist pairing scheme strives … Continue reading
Ten more technologies which could change our lives
Written by Christian Kurrer, with James Tarlton Technological developments, even those still at an early stage, could massively impact our lives in the very short- or longer-term future. To draw attention to ten specific technologies, but also to promote further reflection about other innovations, EPRS is publishing ‘Ten more technologies which could change our lives‘ … Continue reading
Horizon scanning and analysis of techno-scientific trends
Written by Lieve Van Woensel with Victoria Joseph, The Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) Panel aims to provide the European Parliament with information about techno-scientific advances and to support the Parliament’s Members with evidence so that they can anticipate the possible future impact of these developments. To do this, and to prepare the ground … Continue reading
Health systems for the future – Making EU health systems innovative and resilient
Written by Gianluca Quaglio and Amr Dawood Over the last decade, EU health systems have faced growing common challenges: increasing cost; the rise of chronic diseases and multi-morbidity conditions leading to growing demand for healthcare; shortages of health professionals; technological advances; and inequities in access to healthcare. EU Member States’ future ability to provide universal … Continue reading
What if technology helped society become more inclusive? [Science and Technology Podcast]
Written by Philip Boucher, There are already many ‘assistive technologies’ available, which can help people with disabilities participate more fully in society. More advanced assistive technologies are under development, but is technology the key to a more inclusive society? Assistive technologies (ATs) are designed to improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. While some … Continue reading
What if your personal health tracker could save your life? [Science and Technology Podcast]
Written by Christian Kurrer, Through advances in technology, big data has become a major asset and can open up numerous opportunities in all areas, but how can we use this in the context of health care and ensure it benefits everyone? Advances in healthcare have led to dramatic increases in life expectancy and quality of … Continue reading
Health systems for the future
Written by Gianluca Quaglio and Amr Dawood, The health care sector plays an important role in the overall EU economy, accounting for 8 % of the total European workforce and 8.5 % of EU GDP. All EU Member States face strong and growing economic pressures on their health and long-term care systems, driven by already high levels … Continue reading
Cybersecurity in the EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)
Written by Zsolt G. Pataki with Victoria M. Joseph, Cybersecurity is an oft-used term today, and many seem familiar with its meaning. However, it is unclear where the responsibility for policy-making on cybersecurity and cyberdefence actually lies. While national security is sometimes accountable, the cyber domain does not confine itself to operating within traditional national borders, limiting the … 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
Blockchain stimulates a lively debate at the European Parliament
Written by Philip Boucher, On 11 May 2017, the STOA workshop ‘Spotlight on blockchain: a new generation of digital services’ provided a unique opportunity for the public to join policy-makers, technology experts and businesses to discover the wide-ranging opportunities and challenges presented by blockchain technology. In the course of the workshop, co-organised with the European … Continue reading
The role of citizens in the future of science
Written by Philip Boucher. The links between science and policy have been strengthened in recent years. We often hear about the role of scientific evidence in policy-making, but policy also has a substantial influence on the way that science develops. Scientific research is not only about advancing knowledge, but also responding to the most important … 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
What if blockchain changed social values? [Science and Technology Podcast]
Written by Philip Boucher, Blockchain technology could shake up many aspects of our daily lives, from the currency we use to the purchases we make. But what is the impact on our social values, and what can policy-makers do about it? Blockchain technology is a remarkably transparent and decentralised way of recording lists of transactions. … Continue reading
