Living Labs Europe is a pioneering initiative, led by European Cities, Firms, and Citizens, to develop a Network of �Living Labs� with the ambition to further the development of the Information Society, Innovative Capabilities and Attractiveness of Places in Europe. Consequently, Living Labs Europe is a growing network of European cities facilitating innovative city-based projects to provide advanced services to European citizens. Focus is brought on promoting economic growth and regional development through high technology and knowledge intensive production.

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Meeting of minds

European Citizen’s Deliberation on Brain Science

‘European Citizens’ Deliberation on Brain Science is a two-year pilot project led by a European panel of 126 citizens. A partner consortium of technology assessment bodies, science museums, academic institutions and public foundations from nine European countries launched this initiative in 2004 with the support of the European Commission.

The initiative will give European citizens a unique opportunity to learn more about the impact of brain research on their daily lives and society as a whole, to discuss their questions and ideas with leading European researchers, experts and policy-makers, put them in touch with fellow citizens from other European countries and make a personal contribution to a report detailing what the people of Europe believe to be possible and desirable in the area of brain science and what they recommend policy-makers and researchers to be aware of for future developments in this field.

Through this approach, the Meeting of Minds initiative wishes to meet EU calls for greater public involvement in the debate on future research, technological decision-making and governance.’

I suggest that it is another fine initiative coordinated by the King Baudouin Foundation, with no portuguese participation in the event.

Nevertheless, this project was presented to me in the Cipast summit as a EU marketing-like flyer, with the presupposition of trying to reach a large number of countries and its institutions, as well as involving lay people as much as they could. In my opinion, I thought they overemphasized the process and disregarded the content, paying little attention of what it really was at stake – brain sciences.
The second European Citizens’ Convention that took place from 20 to 23 January 2006 in Brussels, can be watched in a streaming video format sample by clicking here.

EPTA Network

EPTA - European Parliamentary Technology Assessment – is a network involving 18 European organisations which carry out TA (technology assessment) studies on behalf of parliaments, including mostly national parliaments, but also at the regional and European level. The Portuguese parliament, object of our study, does not have a similar organisation

From its objectives:

“The EPTA Partners advise parliaments on the possible social, economic and environmental impact of new sciences and technologies.

The common aim is to provide impartial and high quality accounts and reports of developments in issues such as bioethics and biotechnology, public health, environment and energy, ICTs, and R&D policy.

Such work is seen as an aid to the democratic control of scientific and technological innovations, and was pioneered in the 1970s by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) of the US Congress.

EPTA aims to advance the establishment of technology assessment as an integral part of policy consulting in parliamentary decision making processes in Europe, and to strengthen the links between TA units in Europe.”

Through its site (www.eptanetwork.org) it is possible to access a database of parliamentary technology assessment projects, focusing on topics as wide ranging as nanotechnology, brain research, road pricing, future energy systems and the future of education.