Anticipation on Societal Embedding of Nanotechnologies in the Domains of Food & Health: An Emerging Super Heuristic?

Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2009This presentation was part of the session : Roundtables on Organizations of Science and InnovationThe introduction and societal embedding of new and emerging technologies such as nanotechnologies is a challenge and requires dedicated work. In particular the Collingridge Dilemma puts a challenge. But it has to be extended because challenges also play at a collective level. The development and embedding of new technologies involves a heterogeneous and interdependent set of actors. Strategies of trial-and-error and anticipation on embedding are ways to cope with these challenges, but are dependent on strategic interactions between actors on the sectoral level - a "game of societal embedding" - rather than only on individual actors' assessment of technologies and their impacts. In the case of high uncertainties associated with new and emerging technologies games of embedding can be reduced to waiting games. Interestingly, waiting games are productive as they provide legitimacy for dedicated actors and forums (institutional entrepreneurs and field-configuring events) developing new rules and practices to structure embedding of these emerging technologies - which can then break through such waiting games. This paper examines games of embedding, including their possible reduction to waiting games, in the food packaging and drug delivery sectors.Technology Foundation STW; TA NANONE